This week on myths and legends, we're in Turkish folklore, and we'll see how not showering,

collecting birds and throwing balls at strangers in the street can help you meet the love of your life,

if the love of your life doesn't kill you first. The creature this time

is an eel. An eel who loves life so much, it will try to kill everyone.

This is Myths and Legends episode 384, The Silent Princess. This is a podcast where we tell stories from mythology and folklore.

Some are incredibly popular tales you might think you know, but with surprising origins.

Others are stories that might be new to you

but are definitely worth a listen.

Today is a fairy tale from Turkey.

Set in the early modern period,

it comes to us by way of the Hungarian Turkologist

Ignat's Kunos in the early 20th century.

We'll jump in with a Turkish prince engaging in his favorite pastime, pelting strangers on the

street with balls. Oh my gosh, Look at this, look at this. Look at this poor old woman getting water

from a well. The prince laughed. Hey, hey old woman, everyone knows water comes from pitchers brought by servants.

He turned to his tutor, the person who had the challenging job of making sure the prince didn't

throw balls at strangers.

He was mostly unsuccessful.

Could the tutor believe this woman, drinking water from the ground?

That was like eating food grown in dirt, ew

Then he smiled.

Mm, oh yeah, I'm gonna do it.

...