The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

BELIEF-LEGEND-SECULAR HERO

THERE IS A LEGEND THAT FREDRICK BARBAROSSA, A GREAT FIGURE IN
GERMAN HISTORY, IS NOT REALLY DEAD BUT IS SIMPLY SLEEPING IN A
CAVE IN GERMANY, RESTING FROM HIS MANY VICTORIES, AND THAT WHEN
HE AWAKES HE WILL RETURN AND WIN GLORIOUS VICTORIES AGAIN FOR
GERMANY.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT IS AN AMERICAN WHOSE FATHER IS FROM GERMANY. HIS
FATHER, WHO TOLD HIM THE LEGEND ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, CANNOT REMEM-
BER HOW MANY YEARS AGO HE HEARD IT IN GERMANY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OWOSSO