Black Horse

The Goats of Kema and Her Son

In short: Kema’s son recovers the stolen goats. The tale places the herd between mother and son in the night sky.

The Goats of Kema and Her Son · Goats crossing the night sky FAIRY TALE ATLAS · № 256 The Goats of Kema and Her Son Kema’s son recovers the stolen goats. Origin Eritrea · Tigre oral tradition Atlas record 1908 First appearance Exact date unknown SIGNATURE MOTIF Goats crossing the night sky Reach¹ 1/10 Suggested age² 8+ Member rating No votes yet 2 records · 1 countries or regions blackhorsestories.com

¹ Based on the number of Atlas countries, capped at 10. ² Editorial suggestion for reading this page. Discover Black Horse’s question

Origin and tradition

Eritrea · Tigre oral tradition

The collection gives two answers to who took the goats. Some tellers name Qeren, while others blame Aslam. In both tellings, Kema’s son brings the goats back and drives them behind his mother. A pattern of small stars becomes a herd on the move. Littmann identifies the goats with the Hyades and Kema’s son with Aldebaran.

Dated records and sources

  1. 1908 · Eritrea · Tigre oral tradition
    Enno Littmann · Sternensagen und Astrologisches aus Nordabessinien, § 3, pp. 308–309 · Published collection
  2. 1910 · Eritrea · Tigre oral tradition
    Enno Littmann · Tales, Customs, Names and Dirges of the Tigrē Tribes II, no. 45, p. 61 · Published collection

Country pages

Fairy Tale Glossary

Origin
Black Horse. The Goats of Kema and Her Son. https://blackhorsestories.com/en/atlas-tale-tigre-kema-goats/