Similar fables to King Arthur and Robin Hood in other cultures?
Basically the title. In the US I’ve heard the fables of King Arthur and Robin Hood constantly. What are some other fabled heroes from antiquity that are less well known? Something from a non-Western culture.
We’ve got Trạng Quỳnh. Sort of a trickster folk-hero. Not exactly literal with the whole economic redistribution element, but in other ways somewhat similar to Robin Hood.
With regard to watery figures dispensing swords as a method of selecting government figures? We do have the legend where a golden turtle dispensed a magic sword to Lê Lợi at Hoàn Kiếm lake to help repel foreign invaders. It later had to be returned.
The latter story is often compared to the Arthurian legend. Both are fun stories to read about, although a lot of the tricks of Trạng Quỳnh don’t translate super well (and are somewhat NSFW, haha!).
Totally ignoring ‘non-Western’ like most people here, but it’s all I know.
You could look into the Pre-Christian mythology of Ireland. The Túatha Dé Danann, Fomorians, the Fianna (including Fionn mac Cumhaill), and Cú Chulainn.
There are countless books available, including by WB Yeats, but the most ubiquitous is likely Early Irish Myths and Sagas from Penguin Classics.
Ned Kelly is getting very Robin Hood like here in Australia, although his actual story isn’t as heroic.
For an arthurian hero, perhaps Whitlam? Or Governor Macquarie, who arrived in Australia and removed the corruption in the system, and also changed our currency from alcohol to coinage (basically he took on the bastard cops and won). He also was able to answer the question of “you and whose army?” with “my army” and not be inaccurate. Naming half of Australia after himself was a bit rum though…
Not sure if you’d consider New World culture to be “Western”, but one that might fall in line with the pseudohistorical vibes of the two you mentioned would be Deganawida, an ancient diplomat from the 1100’s who came to five warring tribes and settled disputes, causing it to flourish into a democracy during a time when democracies weren’t an ongoing thing. His adventures are filled with what many might call performing miracles as well as moments of philosophy, profound symbolism, and even the earliest example of actual women’s rights.
There is the Nibelungen saga, a Germanic folk tale. It is too complex to give a short summary. Part of it is the heroic story of Siegfried, the dragon slayer.
It is western and well known in Germany, but judging by the lack of English sources, not very well known elsewhere. For more, I recommend reading the German Wikipedia entry (with translation)
There is Ngatetpya the great cat burglar of Myanmar. He was an actual person from 15th century or something but the later myth describe him as having as having super natural powers granted by enchanted tattoos on his legs. Like neighbouring country of Thailand, the tradition of enchanted tattoos were quite big in ancient Myanmar. You were not considered a man until you have thighs full of tattoos. Anyway, he could jump really high by slapping on his thighs, steal from rich people using his jumping powers and gave back to the poor. When he was finally caught, the king asked him to choose the weapon with which he was to be executed. The burglar blatantly said that he chose the queen consort. The gall of this guy impressed the king so much that he let him serve in his army. History described him as a successful scout/assasin in the king’s army.
My understanding of Alibaba (and the 1001 Arabian Nights) is that they’re closer to Arabic “Duck Tales”. Fantastical stories more designed to woo children with crazy powers and nearly illogical plot structures. However, 1001 Arabian Nights became absurdly popular in Europe, far more popular than well-respected Arabic Heroes. (Much like how Duck Tales is a children’s story in American culture, but way more popular in Europe for some reason). Or for the American equivalent: us importing young-adult shows from Japan (lots of anime) and the American adults consuming it.
For someone “like King Arthur”, an adventuring Hero that’s well respected in the culture that they’re from (ex: English respect King Arthur and see him as high-culture), Arabic Heroes are closer to Sinbad the Sailor instead, rather than Alibaba, Aladdin, or Scheherazade.
Unfortunately, if an Arabic tale came to Europe in the 1500s to 1800s, it would be called “Arabic Nights”, because the original 1001 Arabian Nights was just so popular, every translator in Europe would basically add it as one of Scheherazade’s sub-stories. So its difficult from a Western / English-speaking lens to see what is, or isn’t, respected high-culture stories.
I’m looking through Wikipedia and have come across Antarah ibn Shaddad, a Guardian of the Nativity (Yes, “that” Nativity, Jesus’s birthplace). Such a hero sounds far more similar to King Arthur as a heroic figure to look up towards. (A lot of 1001 Arabian Nights are filled with rather disgusting and backstabby characters and aren’t really “Heroes”).
Not entirely dissimilar from Lancelot in Arthurian legend is Genji from The Tale of Genji (11th century Japan). Genji was also the male ideal: attractive, charismatic, talented. And, of course, sleeping around and getting in trouble for it. The key difference is Lancelot had valor on the battlefield, whereas Genji did his battles in court politics.
William Tell is a Swiss folk hero. El Cid was a real person in Spain but has become a legendary character, as has Rob Roy McGregor. There’s also Beowulf from earlier times. Welsh mythology is pretty cool I’d check that out for some knightly stuff, like The Gododin.
I got nothin’ but this tangent: J.R.R. Tolkien did his world building and the novels they’re set in because he was jelly of the rich mythology of the neighboring northern European countries, and wanted England to have its own. I guess King Arthur and Robin Hood wasn’t good enough for him.
He’s not missing out by that much to be honest. The richer stories are more complex than anything, anyone can make something complex. It takes a somebody to craft something where every detail means something. Which Tolkien did.
Alternatively watch Dragon Ball and see a lil monkey man travel on a journey with his flying cloud and extending pole as he befriends a pigly man amongst many others.
I mean… the Great Stone Monkey came from a rock spaceship that fell from the sky. The Monkey adventured around until he met the gods and was admitted into Heaven. Also the Monkey’s name is Sun Goku.
And then Heaven got pissed off at Sun Goku so Buddha buried him under a mountain. But only after getting the extendy-staff, the eyes imbued with the flames of the heavenly furnace, hundreds of immortality peaches and more.
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