An infant is saved from some calamity by being cast into the hands of Fate by his parents, whose lives are sometimes claimed by the same calamity. Fate, not wanting to have to rear a kid, promptly deposits the young hero with a family (usually poor and humble) who will raise him up to be good, just, noble and strong. He remains ignorant of his true heritage except perhaps for some trinket -- a ring or maybe a pendant, or sometimes a distinctive birthmark -- which can identify him to someone who knew his parents. Examples of Moses in the Bulrushes include: