Pied Piper of Hamelin
Legendary piper who lured rats and children from Hamelin.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin, also known as the Pan Piper or the Rat-Catcher of Hamelin, is the title character of a legend from the town of Hamelin (Hameln), Lower Saxony, Germany. The legend dates back to the Middle Ages and describes a piper dressed in multicoloured ('pied') clothing who was hired by the town to lure rats away with his magic pipe. When the citizens refused to pay, he retaliated by leading away their children. The story has appeared in the writings of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, and Robert Browning, among others, and the phrase 'pied piper' has become a metaphor for a person who attracts a following through charisma or false promises.
- field
- Folklore and legend
- nationality
- German (Hamelin, Lower Saxony)
- known_for
- Leading rats and then children out of Hamelin with a magic pipe
Lore & Background
A modern reconstruction by historian Hans Dobbertin shows the colourful figure of the Piper and several children dressed in white. The window is generally considered to have been created in memory of a tragic historical event.
Reader's Guide
The Pied Piper legend has endured for centuries, appearing in works by Goethe, the Brothers Grimm, and Robert Browning, and has become a cultural metaphor for charismatic leaders who make false promises. Various theories attempt to explain the historical event, such as natural causes like disease or starvation, but no explanation is universally accepted. The legend's significance lies in its reflection of medieval fears and its lasting impact on language and literature. The phrase 'pied piper' remains a common metaphor, and the town of Hamelin continues to commemorate the story through street names like Bungelosenstrasse, where music and dancing are forbidden.
Did You Know?
- The Hamelin street named Bungelosenstrasse ('street without drums') is supposedly the last place the children were seen, and music or dancing has been forbidden there ever since.
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