In the Brothers Grimm tale “The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs,” the hero must obtain three golden hairs from the Devil’s head.
A prophecy says that a poor boy born under unusual circumstances will marry the king’s daughter. The king tries to stop the prediction, but the boy survives his schemes and eventually becomes the princess’s husband. The king then demands proof of the Devil’s three golden hairs as a new challenge.
The hero reaches the Devil’s grandmother, who hides him while the Devil sleeps. She pulls out the three hairs and answers questions about mysterious events in the kingdom. Those answers also help the hero return with valuable information and complete the king’s demand.
The tale combines prophecy, royal opposition, disguise, and a journey to the underworld-like home of the Devil. Its title states the crucial number directly, but the episodes surrounding the hairs provide the adventure.