Carl Zuckmayer, a renowned German dramatist, claimed for the legend the distinction of being the world's most celebrated saga. 1 Be that as it may, what is certain is the fact that of all sagas it is the most enigmatic and in some ways most confusing. In the course of time the figure of the Pied Piper has been identified with the devil and if not quite with Jesus Christ then at least with the ideal of a divinely appointed artist and saviour.