Folklore Database · Browse

Stith Thompson Motif Index

About this index and how to read it

Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature classifies recurring narrative elements in folktales, myths, legends, ballads and related traditional narratives. Each entry below gives Thompson's motif reference and the description recorded in the index.

The index is large, so this browser displays 250 entries per page. You can search by motif reference or by words in the description, restrict the results to one of Thompson's main letter categories, and click motif references mentioned inside descriptions to follow cross-references. Individual motif pages also show any ATU tale types whose concordance explicitly cites that Thompson reference.

46,221 motifs

Page 1 of 185 · 250 per page
Thompson reference ▲ Description
A0 Creator.—For a general bibliography of creation myths, see Alexander N. Am. 278 n. 15. For bibliographies of North American Indian mythologies arranged by areas, see Thompson Tales 272 n. 1; **Feilberg Skabelses og Syndflodssagn; Jewish: Neuman. —Mexican Indian: (Tarascan) Alexander Lat. Am. 85, (Zapotecan) ibid. 87; Guarayú: Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147; Polynesia: Dixon 21 n. 47; Hawaiian: Beckwith Myth 42; Mono-Alu: Wheeler 28, 66f., 70; Easter Is.: Métraux BMB CLX 313; Marshall Is.: Davenport Folk Tales 221f.; Tahiti: Henry Ancient Tahiti 335ff.; New Hebrides: Codrington II 365.—Armenian: Ananikian 20; African: Werner African 127ff., **Frobenius and Fox, (Loango): Pechuël-Loesche 267; Hindu: Penzer I 10; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 338; Icel.: Boberg, MacCulloch Eddic 326; Irish myth: Cross.
A1 Identity of creator.
A1.1 Sun-god as creator.—Egyptian: Müller 69; Persian: Carnoy 260.
A1.2 Grandfather as creator.—S. Am. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359, (Guarayú): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147.
A1.3 Stone-woman as creator.—Paressi: Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359.
A1.4 Brahma as creator.—Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 338.
A2 Multiple creators.
A2.1 Three creators.—Icel.: Boberg, MacCulloch Eddic 327.—Oceanic: Dixon 24; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 42.
A2.2 First human pair as creators. (Cf. A1270.) Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 115 No. 70.
A3 Creative mother source of everything.—India: Thompson-Balys.
A5 Reason for creation.
A5.1 Gods make earth to have place to rest their feet.—Hawaiian: Beckwith Myth 43.
A7 Creator's descendants. (Cf. A32.)
A7.1 Creator has two sons.—Guarayú: Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147.
A10 Nature of the creator.—India: Thompson-Balys.
A11 Invisible creator.—Jewish: Neuman.—Ackawoi: Alexander Lat. Am. 269.
A11.1 Invisibility of creator learned from the impossibility of staring at the sun, his servant.—Jewish: Neuman.
A12 Hermaphroditic creator. The creator is half man and half woman or is thought of as both male and female.—*Lang Myth I 200f., 299; Güntert 324.—Greek: Eisler 396; Egyptian: Maspéro Histoire ancienne des peuples de l'Orient classique 141; Indian (Hindu): Keith 75.—Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 88.
A12.1 Male and female creators. Japanese: Anesaki 222; Hawaii: Henry Ancient Tahiti 345.
A13 Animal as creator.
A13.1 Beast as creator.
A13.1.1 Cow as creator. *Schröder Altgermanische Kulturprobleme 132; *Güntert Weltkönig 365ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 63, 324.
A13.2 Bird as creator. Hawaii: Henry Ancient Tahiti 345.
A13.2.1 Raven as creator. Eskimo: Nelson RBAE XVIII 454; Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 218.
A13.2.2 Eagle as creator of man. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 94.
A13.2.3 Black-winged bird as creator. Greek: Fox 4.
A13.3 Insect as creator.
A13.3.1 Spider as creator. India: Thompson-Balys.
A13.3.2 Beetle as creator. So. Am. Indian (Lengua): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367.
A13.4 Reptile as creator.
A13.4.1 Snake as creator. Mono-Alu, Fauru, Buin: Wheeler 67.
A13.4.2 Worm as creator. Guarayú: Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 437.
A15 Human creator.
A15.1 Female creator. Chibcha: Kroeber BBAE CXLIII (2) 908.
A15.1.1 Old woman as creator. Lepers Is.: Codrington II 372f.
A15.2 Brothers as creators. So. Am. Indian (Guaporé River): Levi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 379.
A15.3 Old man as creator.
A15.3.1 Old man with staff as creator. (cf. A1.2.). Inca: Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 316.
A15.4 Artisan as creator.
A15.4.1 Potter as creator. India: Thompson-Balys.
A17 Angel as creator. Jewish: Neuman.
A18 Pictorial representations of creator.
A18.1 Creator with dragon's head. Chinese: Werner 77.
A18.2 Creator with two horns on head. Chinese: Werner 76.
A18.3 Dwarfish creator. Chinese: Werner 76.
A18.4 Creator clothed in bear-skin (or in leaves). Chinese: Werner 76.
A18.5 Creator with hammer and chisel in hands. Chinese: Werner 76.
A18.6 Creator with sun and moon in hands. Chinese: Werner 76.
A19 Nature of creator—miscellaneous.
A19.1 Sun and moon (man and wife) as creators. So. Am. Indian: (Cashibo) Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 594.
A19.2 Creator with appearance of Negro. Africa (Luba): Danohugh V 180.
A20 Origin of the creator.
A21 Creator from above.
A21.1 Woman who fell from the sky.—Daughter of the sky-chief falls from the sky, is caught by birds, and lowered to the surface of the water. She becomes the creator. —*Iroquois: Thompson Tales n. 27.—Cf. Finnish: Kalevala rune 1.
A21.2 Old man from sky as creator.—Old man with his wife comes from the sky. Are the first couple on earth. Have seven sons and seven daughters. Each son marries a daughter.—Ekoi: Talbot 366.
A22 Creator comes out of chaos. Chinese: Werner 76, Ferguson 57.
A23 Creator offspring of dual powers of nature. (Male and female principles.) —Chinese: Werner 76.
A25 Creator from below. God rises from beneath (the center of the spiritual world) and creates the world.—Hottentot: Bleek 74 No. 35.
A25.1 Creator emerges from lake. So. Am. Indian (Chibcha): Kroeber BBAE CXLIII (2) 908, (Aymara): Tschopik BBAE CXLIII (2) 570.
A26 Creator comes from certain direction.
A26.1 Creator comes from east. Africa (Luba): Donahugh V 80.
A27 Creator born from egg. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 98f.
A30 Creator's companions. Inca: Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 315; Tahiti: Henry 342; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45.
A31 Creator's grandmother. Casually mentioned in the course of the creation myth.—American Indian: *Thompson Tales 275 n. 13.
A32 Creator's family. (Cf. A7.)
A32.1 Creator's son. India: Thompson-Balys.—So. Am. Indian: (Chibcha): Kroeber BBAE CXLIII (2) 908.
A32.2 Creator's daughter. India: Thompson-Balys.
A32.3 Creator's wife. India: Thompson-Balys.—So. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 281.
A32.3.1 Creator's wife seduced by his son. So. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 281.
A32.3.2 Creator beats his wife while intoxicated from beverage he invents. So. Am. Indian (Guarayú): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147.
A33 Animal as creator's companion. India: Thompson-Balys.
A33.1 Beast as creator's companion.
A33.1.1 Creator's dog. The creator is accompanied by a dog (cf. A63.4.).—*Dh I 98—111 passim, especially 108.—Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 347.—Kato: Goddard UCal V 183ff.
A33.2 Bird as creator's companion. India: Thompson-Balys; Sumatra: Dixon 160; Samoa, Tonga: ibid. *164 n. 33, 34.
A33.3 Insect as creator's companion.
A33.3.1 Bee as God's spy. God, the creator, sends a bee to overhear the devil's secrets.—*Dh I 3, 127ff.
A33.4 Other animal companions of creator.
A33.4.1 Armadillo as creator's companion. So. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 281.
A36 Creator's companions: unicorn, phoenix, tortoise, and dragon. Chinese: Werner 76.
A37 Joint creators.
A37.1 Falcon and crow as joint creators. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 54.
A38 Heavenly bodies as creator's companions.
A38.1 Creator's companions: sun and moon. Jewish: Neuman.
A40 Creator's advisers. Jewish: Neuman.
A41 Men as God's advisers. *Dh I 3.
A42 Angels as God's advisers. Dh I 3, 31ff., 55, 187; Jewish: Neuman.
A42.1 Seraphim as creator's advisers. Jewish: Neuman.
A42.1.1 God consults two angels on creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A42.2 God consults mercy on his right and justice on his left. Jewish: Neuman.
A43 Devil as adviser of God. *Dh I 2f., 6, 12, 28, 31, 42, 44, 127ff., 144, 240, 388.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 313ff.
A44 Tora as God's adviser. Jewish: Neuman.
A45 Souls of pious as Creator's advisers. Jewish: Neuman.
A50 Conflict of good and evil creators. *Dh I 1—89 passim, 172ff.—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Persian: Carnoy 261f., 275.—Banks Island: Dixon 106.
A50.1 Creation of angels and devils. Jewish: Neuman.
A51 Creation of devil(s). (cf. A63).
A52 Creation of angels.
A52.0.1 Angels created to execute God's will. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.2 Degraded gods become angels. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.3 Angels existed prior to creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.4 Angels are transformed souls of the pious. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.5 Angels created from three elements. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.6 Angels created from words uttered by God. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.0.7 God drops water from his finger and the drops become angels. Lucifer imitated God and created devils.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 2.
A52.0.8 God created angels by striking one small stone with another. Lucifer created devils by imitation. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 1, 3.
A52.1 Creation of individual angels.
A52.1.1 Angel of death created by God. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.2 Angel Michael created from fire. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.3 Angel Gabriel created from snow. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.4 Angel Raphael created from water. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.1.5 Angel of destruction created from hail and fire. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2 Time of creation of the angels.
A52.2.1 Angels created on first day of creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2.2 Angels created on second day of creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2.3 Angels created on third day of creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2.4 Archangels created on first, angels on third day of creation. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.2.5 Angels created on fifth day with other winged creatures. Jewish: Neuman.
A52.3 Material of which angels are created (fire, water and snow). Jewish: Neuman.
A54 Rebel angels.
A54.1 Angel of sea rebels at world's creation; put to death by God. Jewish: Neuman.
A60 Marplot at creation. An evil opponent attempts to undo or mar the work of the creator.—Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 315f.—Borneo: Dixon 170; Melanesian: *Codrington JAI X 293; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45.—So. Am. Indian (Toba, Mataco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 368f.—India: *Thompson-Balys.
A61 Coyote as marplot at creation. *Thompson Tales 285 n. 52.
A63 Devil as marplot at creation. *Dh I 6—89 passim, 127—205 passim; *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX (Nachträge) 276f.—Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 458f.
A63.1 Devil works during God's sleep at creation. *Dh I 2, 42f., 55, 60, 102, 115ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.
A63.2 Devil plans to drown God at time of creation. *Dh I 184f.—Lithuanian: Balys Index 3005; Balys Legends No. 11.
A63.3 Devil and God wrestle at time of creation. *Dh I 184f.
A63.4 Devil and God create animals. Wolf created as God's dog. The devil creates goats to destroy things.—BP III 199 (Gr. No. 148); Dh I 127—205 passim.
A63.4.1 God and the devil torment each other with their creations. Devil pesters God with gnats. God makes a fire and safeguards himself; God plagues the devil with fleas—devil is unable to find means of protecting himself.—Lithuanian: Balys Index 3082; Balys Legends No. 131ff.
A63.5 Lucifer causes fall of man. Irish Myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A63.5.1 Satan seduces Adam to sin because he is jealous of him. Jewish: Neuman.
A63.6 Devil in serpent form tempts first woman (Satan and Eve). Jewish: Neuman.—India: Thompson-Balys.
A63.7 Rebel god is author of all poisonous things. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 61.
A63.7.1 Poisonous water created by the devil. Irish myth: Cross (A63.7).
A63.8 Satan attempts to create another world. Jewish: Neuman.
A67 God makes things and tosses them into the air; what he catches is good for mankind, what opponent catches is bad. New Hebrides: Beckwith Myth 61.
A70 Creator: miscellaneous motifs.
A71 Creator tries to devour his son, the culture hero. Greek: cf. Roscher II 1540.—Tehuelche (Patagonia): Alexander Lat. Am. 335.
A72 Original creator followed by transformers. These demigods change the original creation into the present forms.—See A900ff. for work of the transformers, with references.—Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 85; So. Am. Indian: *Métraux RMLP XXXIII 122, BBAE CXLIII (3) 437.
A73 Lonely creator. The creator is tired of solitude and therefore inaugurates the creation.—Finnish: Kalevala rune 2.—So. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503.
A74 Reluctant creator.
A74.1 Creation on condition that Israel accept Tora. Jewish: Neuman.
A74.2 Creator repents of creating certain things. Jewish: Neuman.
A75 Creator as ancestor of heaven and earth. Chinese: Werner 76.
A76 Creator's death. (Cf. A192.) Chinese: Werner 77.
A77 Creator's works survive him. Chinese: Werner 77.
A78 Creator goes to make afterworld. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 59.
A81 Creator goes to sky. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 57.
A84 Creator of animals.
A84.1 Creator of buffaloes. India: Thompson-Balys.
A85 Creation match between goddess-wife, god-husband. India: Thompson-Balys.
A87 Creator drunk from beverage he invents. So. Am. Indian (Guarayú): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147.
A100 Deity.
A101 Supreme god. One god chief of all other gods. (Often not worshipped as other gods are.)—Durkheim 274, 409ff.; Leroy La raison primitive 125ff.; Holmberg Gudstron 61ff.; C. Koch Der römische Juppiter.—Semitic: Smith Semites@3 529; Jewish: Neuman; Greek: Fox 153, *Grote I 57f.; Assyrian: Spence 206ff.; Babylonian: ibid. 199ff.; Hindu: Keith 21f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 148, 309; Siberian: Karjalainen FFC XLIV 259, 268ff.; Armenian: Ananikian 11, 14, 37; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 61; Chinese: Ferguson 50, Eberhard FFC CXX 115 No. 70.—Indonesian: Kruyt Archipel 465ff.; Maori: Clark 32; Tahiti: Henry 121, 128; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45.—African: Frobenius Atlantis X 82, Werner African 123ff.; N. A. Indian: Alexander N. Am. 80, 82, 187, 284 n. 28; So. Am. Indian (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93; Africa (Fang): Trilles 130, (Luba): Donohugh V 180.
A101.1 Supreme god as creator. (cf. A0). Lowie Primitive Religion 85; Goldenweiser Early Civilization 97; Oldenberg Die Religion des Veda 278.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 326; Armenian: Ananikian 20; India: Thompson-Balys; Tarascan: Alexander Lat. Am. 85.
A102 Characteristics of deity.
A102.1 Omniscient god. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 47 (Odin); Irish Myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.—So. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 173, (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93.
A102.2 All-seeing god. Jewish: Neuman; Greek: Aeschylus Suppliants line 138.
A102.3 Immutable god. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.4 Omnipotent god. Jewish: *Neuman.
A102.5 Omnipresent god. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A102.6 Eternal god. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.7 Holy god. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.8 Sleepless god. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.9 Invisible god. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.10 Unity of God. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.11 Purity of God. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.12 Perfect God. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.13 Loving kindness of God. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.14 Goodness of God. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.15 Modesty of God. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.16 Justice of God. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.17 Anger of God. Jewish: Neuman.
A102.18 Imperfect god, subject to death and rebirth. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 959.
A102.19 Conflict between God's justice and mercy. Jewish: Neuman.
A103 Father-god. Greek: Grote I 3; Hindu: Keith 50ff., 73ff., 82ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.
A104 The making of gods.
A104.1 Living person becomes god. Hawaii: *Beckwith Myth 2, ch. I passim.
A104.2 Dead body becomes god. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 2.
A104.3 Miscellaneous objects become gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 2.
A104.4 Spirits become gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45.
A106 Opposition of good and evil gods. Hindu: Keith 84; *Penzer I 197; India: Thompson-Balys.—Tarahumare (Mexican Indian): Alexander N. Am. 176; S. Am. Indians (Antioquians): Alexander Lat. Am. 197.—Jewish: Neuman.
A106.0.1 Gods and the demons quarrel over supremacy. India: Thompson-Balys.
A106.1 Revolt of bad gods against good. Babylonian: Spence 75.
A106.1.1 Goddess rebels against her father for forbidding her marriage. India: Thompson-Balys.
A106.2 Revolt of evil angels against God. Jensen Dania II 180; Olrik ibid. II 67; Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3002, Legends Nos. 5, 6; Jewish: *Neuman; Irish: Beal. XXI 323.
A106.2.1 Revolting devil banished to hell. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman.
A106.2.1.1 Banished devil appears on earth only on day of dark moon. India: Thompson-Balys.
A106.2.1.2 Demon (opposed to God) allowed to earth four times a year (but must let people know who he is and not deceive them). India: Thompson-Balys.
A106.2.2 Satan's fall from heaven. Jewish: Neuman.
A106.3 Created beings rebel against God. Jewish: Neuman.
A107 Gods of darkness and light. Darkness thought of as evil, light as good.—Babylonian: Spence 74; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A108 God of the living and the dead in the otherworld. Chinese: Werner 248.
A108.1 God of the dead. Irish myth: Cross; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 60.
A109 Deity: miscellaneous motifs.
A109.1 God as a triad. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 44; Icel.: Boberg.
A109.2 Goddess as mother of Pacific Ocean. Maori: Beckwith Myth 179.
A110 Origin of the gods.
A111 Parents of the gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 171.
A111.1 Mother of the gods. (cf. A116.2). **Showerman; Smith Dragon viii; *Holmberg Baum 84ff.—Babylonian: Spence 123ff.; Hindu: Penzer I 270ff., 276, VII 231; India: Thompson-Balys; Hittite: Garstang The Hittite Empire 305ff.; Gaster Thespis 179.—Oceanic: Beckwith Myth 294; So. Am. Indian (Apapocuvú-Guarani): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 122.
A111.2 Father of the gods. Icel.: Boberg.
A111.3 Ancestor of the gods. Tahiti: Henry 336.
A111.3.0.1 God of double sex carries within him seed of gods. Greek: Grote I 16.
A111.3.1 God dwells with his grandfathers. Marquesas: Handy 106.
A111.3.2 Sea creatures as ancestors of goddess. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/600).
A111.3.3 Great bird as ancestor of gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 92.
A112 Birth of gods. India: Thompson-Balys.
A112.1 God from incestuous union. Krappe The Review of Religion (1941); India: Thompson-Balys.
A112.1.1 God from father-daughter incest. Adonis. Greek: Spence 132.—Icel.: Boberg.
A112.1.1.1 Goddess of music and dance born of incestuous union (Brahma and daughter). India: Thompson-Balys.
A112.2 Male and female creators beget gods. Japanese: Anesaki 223.
A112.3 Gods born from various parts of creator's body. Japanese: Anesaki 224.
A112.4 God as son of giant. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 139 (Loki), 324 (Odin, Vili, and Ve), Boberg.
A112.4.1 God as son of giantess. Icel.: Boberg.
A112.4.2 Goddess as daughter of giant. Icel.: Boberg.
A112.5 God as son of nine giantesses. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 153 (Heimdall).
A112.6 Gods as sons of supreme god. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 61.—Tahiti: Henry 147.
A112.7 God born from peculiar part of parent's body.
A112.7.1 God born from mother's ear. Marquesas: Handy 107.
A112.7.2 God born from mother's armpit. Marquesas: Handy 107.
A112.7.3 Goddess born from mother's eyes. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 186.
A112.7.4 God born after prematurely short pregnancy. Marquesas: Handy 107.
A112.8 God from adulterous union. Irish myth: Cross.
A112.9 Gods borne by human woman. India: Thompson-Balys.
A112.9.1 Elementary spirits borne by human woman. India: Thompson-Balys.
A112.10 Divine child cast out at birth. Polynesia: Beckwith Myth 257.
A112.11 Child born from union of God with hen. Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 130.
A113 Totemistic gods. Gods which have animal associations; e.g., Athena with the owl, Venus with the sparrow.—Babylonian: Spence 93; India: *Thompson-Balys; Irish myth: Cross.
A114 Gods born from object.
A114.1 Deity born from sea-foam. Aphrodite. Greek: Roscher I 402; *Frazer Pausanias III 544.
A114.1.1 Goddess born from sweat of rock washed by sea. Minahassa (Celebes): Dixon 157.
A114.1.1.1 God born of another god's sweat. India: Thompson-Balys.
A114.1.1.2 Origin of lesser gods from spittle of great god. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 82.
A114.2 God born from egg. Tahiti: Henry 337; Marquesas: Handy 104.—So. Am. Indian (Huamachuco): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 151.
A114.2.1 Deity born in shape of egg. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 169.
A114.3 Deity born from skull. Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 312.
A114.4 Deity born from tree. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 279, 284.—So. Am. Indian (Tembé): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 122.
A115 Emergence of deity.
A115.1 First deity grows out of primeval chaos. Japanese: Anesaki 222.
A115.2 God issues from earth. Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 328 (Tuisto).
A115.3 Deity arises from mist. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 71.
A115.4 Deity emerges from darkness of underworld. Mangia (Cook Is.): Beckwith Myth 224.
A115.5 Emergence of gods from above and below. Marquesas: Handy 138.
A115.6 Deity arises from shell of darkness where he has been for million ages. Tahiti: Henry.
A115.7 Gods emerge from hole in tree. India: Thompson-Balys.
A116 Twin gods. *Harris Twins, Boanerges, Picus who is also Zeus; Krappe Etudes de mythologie 137ff.; Güntert Weltkönig 253ff.; S. Eitrem Die göttlichen Zwillinge bei den Griechen (Christiania 1902); H. Grégoire Saints jumeaux et dieux cavaliers (Paris 1905); J.R. Harris The Dioscuri in the Christian Legends (London 1903); Krappe The Classical Journal XVIII (1923) 502ff.; Zeitschrift für Ethnologie LXVI (1929) 187ff.; "Les dieux jumeaux dans la religion germanique" Acta Philologica Scandinavica (1930); Review of Religion (1944) 123ff.; Revue Celtique XLIX (1932) 96ff; P. Saintyves, "Les Jumeaux, dans l'ethnographie et la mythologie," Revue Anthrop. XXXV (1925) 54—59; T. Gaster Oldest Stories 69.—Germanic: Helm Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte I 321ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 26; Armenian: Ananikian 40; Hindu: Keith 30f. (Lettish also mentioned).—Zuсi: Alexander N. Am. 188; Mixtec: Alexander Lat. Am. 86; Indians of Central Brazil: Ehrenreich International Cong. of Americanists XIV 661; Chiriguano: Métraux RMLP XXXIII 172.
A116.1 Twin gods—one mortal, other immortal. Harris Twins 4ff.
A116.2 Twin goddesses (or trinity of goddesses). Irish myth: Cross.
A116.2.1 Twin daughters of a god. India: Thompson-Balys.
A117 Mortals become gods.
A117.1 First men created with eternal life become gods. India: Thompson-Balys.
A117.2 Mortal translated to heaven and deified. India: *Thompson-Balys; Maori: Clark Maori Folk Tales 167.