Who lured rats with a whistle? - briefly
The legend attributes the rat‑luring whistle to the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who used it to draw the vermin away from the town.
Who lured rats with a whistle? - in detail
The figure who attracted rodents by means of a whistle is the legendary Piper of Hamelin. According to medieval chronicles, the town of Hamelin suffered a severe infestation of rats in the early 13th century. The city council offered a substantial reward to anyone capable of eliminating the pestilence. A mysterious traveler arrived, carrying a wooden pipe capable of producing a piercing, melodic sound. He played the instrument, and the rats, compelled by the tone, followed him out of the town and into the Weser River, where they drowned.
When the townspeople refused to honor the promised payment, the Piper returned on Saint John’s Day, this time playing a sweeter, higher‑pitched melody. Children, entranced by the music, left their homes and pursued the Piper toward a mountain cave. The cave sealed behind them, and they vanished from the town forever. Various versions of the tale differ on the number of children taken and the ultimate fate of the Piper, but the core element remains: a solitary musician using a whistle‑like instrument to lead a mass of rats—and later children—away from Hamelin.
Key points of the legend:
- Historical source: First recorded in the 14th‑century “Chronica Regia Coloniensis” and later expanded by the 16th‑century poet Hermann Baumgarten.
- Instrument description: A wooden pipe, often identified as a shepherd’s flute or a simple reed whistle, capable of producing both low and high registers.
- Motivation: Contractual agreement for pest control; later, retribution for broken promise.
- Cultural impact: Inspired countless adaptations in literature, music, and visual arts; serves as a cautionary narrative about broken oaths and the power of music.
The Piper’s identity varies among retellings—sometimes described as a sorcerer, a devil, or a wandering minstrel—but every version attributes the removal of the rat population to his skillful use of a whistle‑like instrument. The story persists as a seminal example of folklore where a single individual’s melodic device commands the obedience of animals and, ultimately, humans.