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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.
All
A
Mythological Motifs
B
Animal Motifs
C
Motifs of Tabu
D
Magic
E
The Dead
F
Marvels
G
Ogres
H
Tests
J
The Wise and the Foolish
K
Deceptions
L
Reversals of Fortune
M
Ordaining the Future
N
Chance and Fate
P
Society
Q
Rewards and Punishments
R
Captives and Fugitives
S
Unnatural Cruelty
T
Sex
U
The Nature of Life
V
Religion
W
Traits of Character
X
Humor
Z
Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
| Thompson reference | Description ▲ |
|---|---|
| A2332.1.2 | How fly got his eyes. Dh III 19. |
| A2332.1.4 | How fox got his eyes. Stole from birch tree. (See A2245.)—Dh III 129. |
| A2378.2.6 | How frog lost tail. (See A2242, lent to squirrel.)—Dh III 54. |
| A2378.2.3 | How frogs lost tails. (See A2231.4, A2236.3.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2322.4 | How goat got his beard. Dh I 2, 181. |
| A2322.4.1 | How goat got his mane. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2326.1.5 | How goats got horns. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 215. |
| A2378.2.2 | How goats lost tails. (See A2216.2.) |
| A1650.3.2 | How God distributed professions: according to the bodily appearance of men. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3056, Balys Legends No. 107. |
| A2332.1.3 | How herring got his eyes. Dh III 44. |
| A2326.1.6 | How horned-viper got horns. Dh III 34. |
| A2320.3 | How lizard got red head. (See A2211.8.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2330.2 | How lynx got his squint. (See A2211.1.) |
| A2378.3.1 | How magpie got long tail. (See A2236.4.) |
| A2378.1.8 | How monkey got its tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2332.1.1 | How mouse got his eyes. Dh III 19. |
| A2378.3.2 | How muskrat got long, thin tail. Dh III 51. |
| A2421.1 | How night-swallow got voice. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 147 No. 51. |
| A2421.5 | How nkundak got voice. (See A2223.2.) |
| A2402.2 | How ostrich lost beautiful feathers. (See A2252.3.) |
| A2326.1.4 | How ox got horns. Exchanged for horse's teeth. (See A2247.) |
| A2421.4 | How partridge got voice. Borrowed from tortoise. (See A2241).—Dh III 132. |
| A2378.1.9 | How peacock got its tail. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1485 | How people learned about calculating time and the seasons. Chinese: Graham. |
| A2513.3 | How pig was domesticated. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2421.4.1 | How quail got voice. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 267. |
| A2211.11 | How rattlesnake became harmful: earthworm feeds him chili pepper. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 68. |
| A2444.3 | How salmon swims. Dh III 222.—Irish: Beal XXI 327. |
| A2326.1.3 | How sheep got horns. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3126; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 215. |
| A2320.1 | How snake got small head. (See A2213.1.)—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2326.1.1 | How stag got antlers. From camel. See A2241.1. |
| A2326.3.2 | How stag got long antlers. Dh III 30. |
| A2571.1 | How the blackbird (merulus) received its name. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A851 | How the earth became oblong. God the Father situated on one side of the earth, the Son on the other.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 3 No. 2; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 139 No. 3. |
| A2711.6 | How the plum tree came to be so hardy: blessed by Ram. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1661.1 | How the white man got his beard. Cheyenne: Campbell JAFL XXIX 407. |
| A2435.1.2 | How tiger formerly cooked its food and why it changed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2378.2.7 | How toad lost tail. Dh III 54.—Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 38 No. 287. |
| A2320.2 | How turtle got snake-like head. (See A2247.2.) |
| A2330.1 | How wildcat got his mashed face. (See A2213.2.1.) |
| A2378.3.3 | How wolf got long tail. (See A2215.1; Cf. A2262.) |
| A2421.2 | How woodcock got voice. Traded with turkey. (See A2247).—Dh III 123. |
| A2322.3 | How zebra got its mane. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 368 No. 19. |
| A15 | Human creator. |
| A182.0.2 | Human intellect unable to conceive God's essence. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2611.0.3 | Human placenta transformed into plant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.10 | Human son of sun. Tonga: Gifford 114. |
| A689.3 | Hunger in hell. Irish myth: Cross. (A679.4.). |
| A1 | Identity of creator. |
| A511.1.3.3 | Immaculate conception of culture hero. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 227; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 484, (Manasi): Métraux ibid. 393. |
| A102.3 | Immutable god. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A102.18 | Imperfect god, subject to death and rebirth. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 959. |
| A1111 | Impounded water. Water is kept by monster so that mankind cannot use it. A hero defeats the monster and releases the water. (The monster is sometimes a giant frog.)—*Chauvin VI 3 No. 181, VII 132 No. 399.—Hindu: Keith 33 (guarded by dragon); India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Ferguson 155; Japanese: Anesaki 276.—Australian: Dixon 279, 297; Papua: Ker 25; Baining of New Britain: ibid. III; Samoan, Melanesian: ibid. 38 n. 109, 110.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 293 n. 76, (Tahltan): Teit JAFL XXXII 201, 203; S. Am. Indian (Bacairi, Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 313, (Botocudo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 540, (Caingang): Lowie ibid. (1) 397, (Bolivia, Peru): Jijena Sanchez Perro Negro 134.—Africa: Stanley 8, (Basuto): Jacottet 148 No. 21, 154 No. 22 cf. 8 No. 1, (Hottentot): Bleek 27 No. 14, (Ekoi): Talbot 144, 197, (Ababua): Einstein 101. |
| A972.4 | Imprint of horse in rocks.—French: Sébillot France I 383ff.; Danish: Thiele Danmarks Folkesagn I 209, II 47, Schmidt DF XXXIX 22-23; German: Þiðriks saga I 157, 220.—India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| A431.1.1 | In absence of goddess of fertility, no reproduction of life. Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 304. |
| A117.3 | In extreme old age spirits become gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 67. |
| A173.1 | In god's absence his function ceases. Death, reproduction, etc., suspended until the god's return.—*Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 300ff. |
| A678 | In other world one room contains the dead, another contains souls of the unborn waiting to enter the wombs of women, and a third contains all the evil spirits. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1285.1.1 | In response to Adam's prayer, God sends him to earth to be father of mankind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1273.1 | Incestuous first parents. India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Dixon 171f. |
| A1005.2 | Inclosure made during world calamity and only best types of animals and men preserved. Persian: Carnoy 308; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A120.3 | Incorporeal god. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2721.2.2 | Indentations on plants from Christ's biting them at crucifixion. (cf. A2751.3.1.)—Dh II 198. |
| A972.2.1 | Indention on rock from footprint of angel. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2751.3.1 | Indentions in stem of reed. (See A2721.2.1, A2721.2.2, A2732.)—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 90 No. 130b. |
| A972.5.3 | Indentions on rock from paws of King Arthur's dog. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.3.1.1 | Indentions on rock from weapons (limbs) of robbers through power of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.6 | Indentions on rocks caused by giants. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.1.1 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of Christ. Dh II 199.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Kirialaxsaga 66. |
| A972.2 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of fairies (angels, devils). Jegerlehner Oberwallis 303 Nos. 22, 23.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 500ff. |
| A972.3.1.2 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of saint's cow. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.5.1 | Indentions on rocks from head of infant hero (saint). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.1 | Indentions on rocks from imprint of gods and saints. *Toldo Studien zur vgl. Literaturgeschichte V 337ff.; Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 95.—Irish myth: *Cross; Eng., Scot., Ire., Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 977; Greek: *Grote I 180.—Hawaii Beckwith Myth 65, 142, 212f.; S. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 281. |
| A972.5 | Indentions on rocks from marks of various persons. |
| A972 | Indentions on rocks from prints left by man (beast). (Cf. A901.)—*Fb "sten" III 552b; *Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 96; Dh II 8.—Irish: Thurneysen Irische Helden-u. Königssagen 189, Cross; Icel.: Boberg; Danish: Schmidt DF XXXIX 13ff.; French: Sébillot France I 369ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: Krickeberg Indianermärchen aus Nordamerika 245, Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 59; Aztec: Krickeberg Märchen der Azteken 60, 204, and passim; S. Am. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 132. |
| A972.5.4 | Indentions on rocks from weapons, knees, and elbows (of persons slain by hero). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1614.7 | Indians and whites from different legs of first man. S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 108. |
| A1599.8 | Inequalities of fortune among men, otherwise the work of the world will not go on. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A920.1.1 | Inexhaustible buckets as source of lakes. Chinese: Werner 221. |
| A661.1.1 | Inhabitants of heaven divided into companies. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A13.3 | Insect as creator. |
| A33.3 | Insect as creator's companion. |
| A2435.5.2 | Insect fries human blood and eats it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2001 | Insects from body of slain monster. Usually the monster is burnt; sometimes the insects come from his head, sometimes from his body as it burns. (Cf. A1716.1.)—*Dh I 279, III 152ff., 164ff., 170ff. (dragon); *Fb "myre", "myg"; Persian: Carnoy 288; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 386; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 23, 128; Japanese: Ikeda; N. Am. Indian: *Thompson Tales 354 n. 275. |
| A2001.1 | Insects from brains, blood, and bones of slain helpful animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2004 | Insects from devil's post-hole. Devil is given enough land to dig a post-hole. From this come all kinds of insects. To stop them a burning log is put in the hole. Insects therefore hate smoke. Dh I 173—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 21 No. 120, XXXIII 55 No. 120. |
| A1667 | Intelligence of various people. |
| A2750 | Interior and bark of plant. |
| A693 | Intermediate future world. Residence for those whose good and evil deeds exactly counterbalance.—Irish myth: Cross; Persian: Carnoy 344. |
| A2755 | Internal parts of plant. |
| A1427.0.3 | Intoxicating drink first used at the wedding feast of the first couple. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1426.2.1 | Introduction of brewing. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1459.1.2 | Introduction of broad-headed spears into Leinster. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1468.1 | Invention of chess game. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1459.1.4 | Invention of gai bulga. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A11.1 | Invisibility of creator learned from the impossibility of staring at the sun, his servant.—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A11 | Invisible creator.—Jewish: Neuman.—Ackawoi: Alexander Lat. Am. 269. |
| A102.9 | Invisible god. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1006.5 | Ireland repopulated by persons who escape flood. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1006.6 | Ireland, waste for centuries after flood, is repopulated by immigrants. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1432.1.1 | Iron at first was made for food, not for weapons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A978.2 | Iron created to punish cedar's pride. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A955.2 | Island created by shooting arrow. (Cf. D936, D1092.)—Greek: Pauly-Wissowa s.v. "Anaphe" 2060, Apollonius Rhodius IV 1709ff. |
| A955.8 | Island fished-up by demigod (hero). Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 61, 227, 308; Tonga: Beckwith Myth 369, Gifford 15, 20; Maori: Clark 48ff.; Marquesas: Handy 103; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (x-G. 13/52). |
| A955.4 | Island plowed out by goddess. (See A951.). |
| A955.1 | Islands as deity's stepping-stones. (Cf. A901.)—Greek: Fox 250. |
| A955.0.1 | Islands created by order of deity. Marquesas: Handy 122f.; Marshall Is.: Davenport 221. |
| A955.5 | Islands from cow and calf transformed by evil eye of one-eyed god. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A955.6 | Islands from stones cast by giantess. (Cf. A901, A963.5.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| A955.10 | Islands from transformed object or person. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 347; Tahiti: Henry 129, 346; Marshall Is.: Davenport 222; Tonga: Gifford 24, 68, 179; Marquesas: Handy 44. |
| A955.7 | Islands from webs woven by primeval spiders. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A671.2.4.2 | Islands in sea of fire in hell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A692 | Islands of the blest. Irish myth: Cross.—Greek: Fox 147, Grote I 62, Güntert Kalypso 81; Gaster Oldest Stories 50.—Oceanic: Kruyt Het Animisme 368ff.; Landman Kiwai Papuans 12; Lévy-Bruhl L'âme primitive 382ff. |
| A955.11 | Islands originally form continent, later separated. Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 468; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 216f., 230, 328; Marquesas: Handy 112; Tonga: Gifford 81; Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 389. |
| A2493.11.3.1 | Jackal and tiger as business partners. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2218.2 | Jackal carries sun in bag on back; burns his back black. (Cf. A721.1, A2356.3.2.)—Hottentot: Bleek 67 No. 29. |
| A2284.6 | Jackal persuades hyena to jump and break foot. Latter has short left hind foot. (Cf. A2375.2.5.)—Hottentot: Bleek 14 No. 14. |
| A751.10.2 | Jacob as man in the moon. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2241.6 | Jay borrows cuckoo's skin. (Cf. A2313.1.)—*Type 235. |
| A2236.7 | Jay carries sulphur to devil in hell: must be quiet at noon. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 633. |
| A164.7 | Jealous wife of god. India. Thompson-Balys. |
| A2287 | Jesus causes animal characteristics. (Cf. A2221, A2231.) |
| A2287.1.1 | Jesus drives evil spirits into hogs: hence "toes" on back of foreleg. (Cf. A2371.2.2.)—Dh II 82. |
| A2287.1 | Jesus drives evil spirits into hogs: hence short snouts. (Cf. A2335.4.1.)—Dh II 81.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 12 No. 66. |
| A156.1 | Jewels of the gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 120ff., 140ff.; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A37 | Joint creators. |
| A751.10.1 | Joshua as man in the moon. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A169.1 | Judge and tribunal of the gods. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| A675 | Judges in the lower world. Greek: Fox 143.—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 206 No. 155; Japanese: Anesaki 238. |
| A669.1 | Judges in the upper world. Gaster Thespis 186; Icel.: Boberg. |
| A102.16 | Justice of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2461.3 | Killer-whale uses dorsal fin as weapon. Joshua: Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 236. |
| A161.2 | King of the gods. See all references to A101 (Supreme god). |
| A2777.2 | King of trees. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A185.6.1.1 | Kiss of God causes painless death. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A411.2 | Kitchen-gods. Chinese: Werner 166; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A164.3.1 | Krishna plays cards with his three wives. (Cf. A163.1.). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A666 | Ladder to heaven (applied to saint). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.8 | Lake bursts forth to drown impious people. Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 241ff., (1931) 162ff.; Fb "sø" III 731a; G. Schütte in Danske Studier (1925) 117ff. |
| A920.1.3 | Lake bursts forth to drown thief. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.7.1 | Lake bursts forth to quell fairy war. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.12 | Lake bursts forth where blind king plucks rushes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.9 | Lake bursts forth where island is plowed out. (See A951.)—Olrik Danske Studier (1910) 1ff. |
| A920.1.7 | Lake created by fairies. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.6 | Lake from urine of horse. (Cf. A933.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.8.1 | Lake from violating tabu. Irish myth: Cross; Africa: Bouveignes 21—29. |
| A878.2 | Lake of milk by tree of life. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 414. |
| A920.1.13 | Lake of milk formed through virtue of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.16 | Lake originally filled with palm wine. Africa (Bushonga): Torday 235. |
| A920.1.14 | Lakes are daughters of the gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A920.1.4 | Lakes burst forth to commemorate birth, death, battle, etc., of primitive hero. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.2 | Lakes from digging of primeval ox. (Cf. A901.)—Kirghis: Holmberg Siberian 331. |
| A920.1.10 | Lakes made by giant or devil. Lithuanian: Balys Historical. |
| A920.1.5.1 | Lakes originate from belches. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.5 | Lakes originate from tears. (Cf. A901, A911.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| A128.5 | Lame god. Greek: Fox 205 (Hephaistos). |
| A954 | Land born from goddess. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 302. |
| A661.0.10 | Land of the saints surrounded by fiery circle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A952 | Land rises out of sea. Tuamotu: Beckwith Myth 75. |
| A953 | Land thrown down from heaven. Tonga: Gifford 15. |
| A667 | Language of heaven. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1009.3 | Large stone falls from sky killing all but one couple. S. Am. Indian (Moré): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 406. |
| A1580.2 | Laws given directly by deity. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2769 | Leaves of plant—miscellaneous. |
| A2760 | Leaves of plant. |
| A128.3 | Legless and armless deity supported on animal. Borneo: Dixon 165. |
| A2234.3 | Lemur looks where forbidden: has big eyes. (Cf. A2332.3.1.) —Fang: Nassau 235 No. 3. |
| A165.2.1.1.5 | Leopards as God's messengers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2302.6 | Lice made smaller. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1614.3 | Light and dark-skinned peoples made from light and dark coconuts. New Britain: Dixon 108. |
| A1411.1 | Light kept in box (basket). Stolen.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 282 n. 45. |
| A1412.1 | Light originated from shield of old cobra supporting the earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1141.1 | Lightning as fiery snake. Siberian, Finnish: Holmberg Siberian 445. |
| A1141.5 | Lightning as God's messenger. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1141.4 | Lightning as god's whip. Gaster Thespis 157; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1141.7.1 | Lightning as torches of invisible dancers. Africa (Fang): Trilles 174. |
| A526.9 | Lightning flashes from armpits of hero. Maori: Beckwith Myth |
| A1141.7 | Lightning from fire. S. Am. Indian (Chorotí, Lengua, Ashluslay): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Tupinamba): Métraux ibid. (3) 132. |
| A1141.2 | Lightning from flashing sword. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1141.3 | Lightning from heavenly horses striking hoofs against stars. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1141.6 | Lightning produced by deity. Greek: Grote I 8; Jewish: Neuman; Maori: Clark 168. |
| A285.1 | Lightning weapon of the gods. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A165.2.1.1.6 | Lions as God's messengers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A671.2.12 | Lions in hell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1427.0.2 | Liquor discovered by rain-god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1427.0.1 | Liquor discovered when birds get drunk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2617.2 | Living animals transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2617.1 | Living boys or girls transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A104.1 | Living person becomes god. Hawaii: *Beckwith Myth 2, ch. I passim. |
| A2211.8 | Lizard dips head in palm-oil: cause of red head. (Cf. 2320.3.)—Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 278. |
| A2255.2 | Lizard loses lawsuit: must bob his head. Lizard and ant accused of theft of king's crow. Ant pours boiling water down lizard's throat. When case is tried, lizard cannot talk but only bobs head up and down. Adjudged guilty and condemned to bob his head eternally. (Cf. A2474.1.)—Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 48 No. 5. |
| A2211.9 | Lizard swallows fish bone: hence head bobs up and down. (Cf. A2474.1.)—Ibo (Nigeria): Basden 278. |
| A2250.2 | Lizard wins contest with toad: why snakes and lizards change their skins. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2272.2 | Lizard's tail imitated from snake's. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 20 No. 110, XXXIII 55 No. 110. |
| A1011 | Local deluges. **Schmarsel Die Sage von der untergegangenen Stadt; *RTP XXVIII 27 and references to earlier volumes.—Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 81 n. 2; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A419 | Local gods—miscellaneous. |
| A410 | Local gods. Chinese: Graham; Irish myth: Cross. |
| 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. |
| A1323 | Long span of life for first man. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 108. |
| A139.12 | Long-suffering God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2423.1.3 | Loon's ugly voice. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 38 No. 53. |
| A2231.13 | Loris refuse to look at sun who comes out when they are dancing: hence never looks at sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1122.3 | Lost wind found in hollow tree: has been banished and is needed by men. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A123.9 | Lotus plants grow from navel of Vishnu. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A813.2 | Lotus-leaf raft in primeval sea. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2051.1 | Louse created to give women work. (Cf. A2032.2.)—*Fb "lus". |
| A102.13 | Loving kindness of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A63.5 | Lucifer causes fall of man. Irish Myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A124 | Luminous god. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 129 (Balder); India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2211.1 | Lynx views country from mountainside: cause of his squint. (Cf. A2330.2.)—Ojibwa: Jones-Michelson PAES VII (II) 131 No. 10. |
| A123.2.2.1 | Maggots squirm from mouth of man-eating god. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 506. |
| A154.1 | Magic drink gives immortality to gods. (cf. D1040). Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 31, 54; Hindu: Keith 46. |
| A153.2 | Magic food gives immortality to gods. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 54; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A153.4 | Magic food rejuvenates the gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 178. |
| A511.1.4 | Magic origin of culture hero. |
| A165.8 | Magician of the gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2382.1 | Magpie is a hybrid of dove and raven; was not baptized by water of the flood in Noah's time. (Cf. A2291.)—England: Baughman. |
| A2542.1.1 | Magpie refuses to get into ark, sits around outside, jabbering over drowned world, is unlucky. (cf. A2232.4.) England: Baughman. |
| A2236.4 | Magpie tells man he is to die next day: no tongue and long tail. God pulls out his tongue and makes his tail long for doing this forbidden thing. (Cf. A2344.2.6, A2378.3.1.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 16 No. 89. |
| A672.2 | Maiden at the bridge to hell. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 130, 304. |
| A1016.5 | Making mountains out of flat earth causes flood. N. Am. Indian (Apache): Goddard PaAM XXIV 28f. |
| A853 | Making the earth larger. Gradually extended during creation. See references to A812 in which this idea is always involved.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 317.—Oceanic: Dixon 29; India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 30. |
| A852 | Making the earth smaller. Earth made too large. God learns from devil by trickery how to make it smaller.—*Dh I 3—89 passim, 127ff. |
| A112.2 | Male and female creators beget gods. Japanese: Anesaki 223. |
| A12.1 | Male and female creators. Japanese: Anesaki 222; Hawaii: Henry Ancient Tahiti 345. |
| A918 | Male and female waters. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A183.1 | Male god invoked in east; female in west. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 12. |
| A227.1 | Male sun-god while ascending; female while setting. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 12, chap. 2 passim. |
| A504 | Male virgin demigod. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1301). |
| A2250.1.1 | Man and tiger in contest: winner to live in town. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A189.1.1 | Man as helper of thundergod. Lithuanian, Latvian, Livonian, Estonian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Rumanian: *Balys Tautosakos Darbai VI 53—83, 107f.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *1147A; Prussian: Plenzat 60. |
| A1216 | Man as offspring of creator. Greek: Fox 11.—India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: Dixon 156, 167, Voorhoeve Overzicht 64. |
| A1281.2 | Man at first covered with hair. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 34; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 383. |
| A1281.3 | Man at first naked. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1316.0.1 | Man at first with two faces, separated at birth of first woman. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1245.5 | Man born from mountains. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A189.3 | Man cheats a god in throwing dice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1276 | Man chosen as best gift by primeval women. In beginning only women on earth. Deity kills one by accident and promises anything as reparation. They choose man.—Ekoi: Talbot 98. |
| A725 | Man controls rising and setting of sun. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A1226 | Man created after series of unsuccessful experiments. Greek: *Grote I 62; Quiché: Alexander Lat. Am. 163ff.; Cakchiquel: ibid. 180; Banks Is.: Beckwith Myth 61. |
| A1291.1 | Man created by angels. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1218 | Man created by co-operation of the gods. *BP III 54.—Icel.: De la Saussaye 263, MacCulloch Eddic 327; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 39; Jewish: Neuman; Greek: Fox 15. |
| A1291 | Man created by supernatural creature, not deity. |
| A1263.7 | Man created from animal bone. Jewish: Neuman; Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 51. |
| A1263.5 | Man created from animal horns that bloomed and bore him as fruit. Chinese: Graham. |
| A1268 | Man created from ashes (cinders). India: Thompson-Balys; Gilbert Is. (Micronesia): Dixon 252; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 85. |
| A1263.1.1 | Man created from blood-clot. Chatham Is., Samoan, Melanesian: Dixon 30; Admiralty Is., Polynesian, Indonesian, Melanesian, New Britain: *ibid. 109 n. 17. |
| A1263.1 | Man created from blood. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1263.6 | Man created from culture hero's genitals. Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 139, 165, 168, 178, 218. |
| A1261.2 | Man created from egg formed from sea-foam. Minahassa (Celebes): Dixon 157. |
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