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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A970 | Origin of rocks and stones. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325f.; Jewish: Neuman.—Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 47. |
| A971 | Origin of rocks from breaking of God's sieve. See references in A963.2. |
| A2656 | Origin of rose. |
| A2772.1 | Origin of rose's color. Sébillot RTP II 549. |
| A1552.2 | Origin of royal marriages with close relatives. Tonga: Gifford 187. |
| A1653 | Origin of royalty. |
| A1439.3 | Origin of rubber S. Am. Indian. (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 484. |
| A2611.7 | Origin of rue: from drops of Christ's blood. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3218, Legends No. 304. |
| A2666 | Origin of rue. (See A2611.0.4.1.) |
| A2685.3 | Origin of rye. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 129; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1541.4.1 | Origin of Sabbath from a feast to Venus. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| A1541.4 | Origin of Sabbath. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A992 | Origin of sacred places. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3725; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A992.1 | Origin of sacred post (placed there by ancestral culture hero). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1545 | Origin of sacrifices. Greek: *Grote I 25f., 28; Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 36, 59, 199. |
| A2148.2 | Origin of salamander. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2125 | Origin of salmon. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 206. |
| A942.2 | Origin of salt springs. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 326. |
| A2681.7 | Origin of sandalwood tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1464.3 | Origin of satire. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1487 | Origin of sciences. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2092 | Origin of scorpion. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2847 | Origin of scum on stagnant water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A920.2 | Origin of sea channels. Tonga: Gifford 87, 94. |
| A924.1 | Origin of sea from overturned calabash. Haitian: Alexander Lat. Am. 29. |
| A924.2 | Origin of sea from rotting snakes. Buin: Wheeler Mono-Alu 28. |
| A1116 | Origin of sea-waves. |
| A925.2 | Origin of sea's color. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1119.3 | Origin of sea's unpleasant odor. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1837 | Origin of seal. Eskimo (Central): Boas RBAE VI 637, 639. |
| A1539.1 | Origin of seating arrangements in royal hall. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1535 | Origin of secular feasts. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1425 | Origin of seed. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 484. |
| A2367.3.1 | Origin of serpent's blood and venom. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A996 | Origin of settlements (places later to be settled). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1313.0.2 | Origin of sex differentiations. Africa (Loango): Pechuël-Loesche 267. |
| A1350 | Origin of sex functions. (Cf. A1556.) |
| A1313 | Origin of sex-organs. |
| A1352 | Origin of sexual intercourse. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 63-66; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Tonga: Gifford 18; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684; Africa (Mkulwe): Einstein 18f., (Loango): Pechuël-Loesche 267. |
| A1556 | Origin of sexual restrictions. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1383 | Origin of shame for nakedness. |
| A2356.2 | Origin of shape of animal's back. |
| A2785 | Origin of shape of particular tree. |
| A2785.1 | Origin of shape of wiliwili tree. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 495. |
| A2793.6 | Origin of shapes of grain. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3221, Legends Nos. 315—322. |
| A1433.3 | Origin of shell money. Mono-Alu: Wheeler 12, 57. |
| A2315.1 | Origin of shell-fish's black scales. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 39 No. 59. |
| A2826 | Origin of shells. Eskimo (East Greenland): Rasmussen I 114. |
| A1461.6 | Origin of shepherd's pipe. Greek: Fox 267f. |
| A925.7 | Origin of shining patches beneath sea. Tonga: Gifford 200. |
| A1454 | Origin of shoemaking. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 7 No. 28; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2171.4 | Origin of shrimp. Tahiti: Henry 339. |
| A1337.0.7 | Origin of sickness and misfortune: monstrous births from brother-sister incestuous union. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2811 | Origin of silk. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1. |
| A2182.1 | Origin of silkworm. *Dh II 107ff. (cf. A1725.1).—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 79. |
| A1433.2 | Origin of silver coins. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A701.1 | Origin of sky from egg brought from primeval water.—Borneo: Dixon 165; Tahiti: Henry 339. |
| A701.2 | Origin of sky from Ymir's skull. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325—26. |
| A1473 | Origin of slavery. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1657 | Origin of slaves. Icel.: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 235 (Rigsthula); Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1399.2.1 | Origin of sleep. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Tucuna): Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII (3) 724. |
| A1459.1.3 | Origin of sling-stones. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1337.7 | Origin of smallpox. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1447.4 | Origin of smelting. Africa: Bouvergnes 16, (Babuka): Einstein 166, (Bushongo): Torday 235, 248. |
| A2816 | Origin of smoke. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 81. |
| A2181 | Origin of snail. |
| A2423.1.6 | Origin of snail's monotonous voice. Africa: Milligan Jungle 95. |
| A2312.2 | Origin of snail's shell. Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Fang): Trilles Proverbes 176. |
| A2356.1.1 | Origin of snake's back. From a stick. (See A2262.3.) |
| A1319.9 | Origin of sneezing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1942 | Origin of snipe. |
| A1135.2 | Origin of snow. Irish myth: Cross; Flemish: De Meyer FFC XXXVII 83 No. 9b; Jewish: Neuman.—Eskimo (West Greenland): Rasmussen II 33, Rink 44. |
| A2661 | Origin of snowdrop (galanthus nivatis). Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 92 No. 257*. |
| A1539 | Origin of social ceremonials—miscellaneous. |
| A1530 | Origin of social ceremonials. |
| A1537 | Origin of social etiquette. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2126.1 | Origin of sole. New Hebrides: Codrington 372. |
| A2684.2.1 | Origin of sorghum. Africa (Wute): Sieber 204. |
| A1441.4 | Origin of sowing and planting. Greek myth: Grote I 41; Kauai: Beckwith Myth 367; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 115. |
| A1581 | Origin of special penalties. |
| A2814 | Origin of spices. Chauvin VII 59 No. 77 n. 1. |
| A2091 | Origin of spider.1 (Cf. A1751.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 22 No. 122; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1453.1 | Origin of spinning. Greek: Fox 171, *Grote I 163; S. Am. Indian (Chibcha): Kroeber BBAE CXLIII (2) 909. |
| A1399.3 | Origin of spitting. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A941.5.7 | Origin of springs where deity dug. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 212. |
| A941 | Origin of springs. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.—Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 114 No. 69; S. A. Indian (Amuesa): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 131. |
| A779 | Origin of stars—miscellaneous. Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 22; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 21f. |
| A2305.1.1 | Origin of steel-head salmon's flat body. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 242. |
| A1358 | Origin of sterility among women. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A973 | Origin of stones: punishment for discourtesy. Jesus asks a man what he is sowing. He answers, "Stones." Jesus turns the crop to stones. This is how stones originate.—*Dh II 95.—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 140 No. 4; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 80 No. 2, England: Baughman. |
| A2351.4.1 | Origin of stork's long neck. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1130.2 | Origin of storms in sixth heaven. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1147 | Origin of stormy sky. |
| A2685.2 | Origin of straw. Formerly whole blade became grain. Straw left for dog. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 10. No. 49, XXXIII 53 No. 49; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 143 No. 28; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A930 | Origin of streams. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1657.1 | Origin of subject tribes (aithech-thuatha). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1549.2 | Origin of sundry religious ceremonials—Jewish: Neuman. |
| A925.6 | Origin of surf. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 436. |
| A1981 | Origin of swan. |
| A1981.0.1 | Origin of swans from two fowls fed in Urd's well. Icel.: Snorra Edda Gylf. XVI, Boberg. |
| A1319.8 | Origin of sweat. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2686.4.1 | Origin of sweet potato. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 242; S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 109. |
| A1118 | Origin of swirling motion of water. Animals and birds scratch in it.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 283f.; Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 4 No. 7, XXXIII 51 No. 7; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 140 No. 5; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 81 No. 6. |
| A1546.0.1 | Origin of symbols of worship. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1587 | Origin of tabus. Mono-Alu: Wheeler 67; Papua: Kerr 90. C. Tabu. |
| A2755.3 | Origin of tar in heart of trees. (See A2734.2.)—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 210. |
| A2686.4.2 | Origin of taro. Mono-Alu: Wheeler 67; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 98. |
| A1595 | Origin of tattooing. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 316f., 367. |
| A1465.1 | Origin of tattooing. India: Thompson-Balys; Maori: Dixon 73, Clark 139. |
| A1344 | Origin of tears and sighs. Wienert FFC LVI 37; Halm Aesop Nos. 138, 355; Greek: Grote I 7, 72; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1316.6 | Origin of teeth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1446.4 | Origin of the adze. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1446.2 | Origin of the axe. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Carib: Penard JAFL XXX 258. |
| A1447.1 | Origin of the bellows. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1446.5.1 | Origin of the broom. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A20 | Origin of the creator. |
| A510 | Origin of the culture hero (demigod). |
| A1545.5.1 | Origin of the custom of wife self-sacrifice (suttee). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A920.1.15 | Origin of the Dead Sea. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1543.1 | Origin of the death chant. (Cf. A1541.1.)—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 239; Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1455.1 | Origin of the domestic hearth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1657.2 | Origin of the Fir Bolg ("Men of the Sacks"); so-called because as slaves they were forced to carry earth in sacks (builg). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1457.1 | Origin of the fish hook. Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 317, 363; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 210. |
| A1659.1 | Origin of the Fomorians (giants). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A110 | Origin of the gods. |
| A771 | Origin of the Great Bear (Ursa Major). *Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 104; *Handwb. d. Aberglaubens IX Nachträge 681f.; *Basset RTP XXVIII 112 with references to earlier volumes.—Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 276; Greek: Fox 21 (Kallisto), 251; Jewish: Neuman; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 34 No. 5; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 81 Nos. 10, 11; Egyptian: Müller 59; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 426; Hindu: Keith 102; Chinese: Graham; Korean: Zong in-Sob 12 No. 5.—N. A. Indian (Eskimo, Iroquois, Assiniboine, Blackfoot, Mandan, Sioux): Alexander N. Am. 9, 26, 96, *278 n. 14; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 93. |
| A1446.5.3 | Origin of the grindstone. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A950 | Origin of the land. Chinese: Graham; Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 47. |
| A1319.5 | Origin of the liver. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1611.5.4.2 | Origin of the Maic Milid (Milesians, Gaels). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A778 | Origin of the Milky Way. *Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 109; *Basset RTP XXII 167 and references to earlier volumes; *Fb "mælkevej" II 642.—Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 100; Armenian: Ananikian 37; Bulgarian: ibid. 49.—Ekoi: Talbot 366; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 74; S. Am. Indian (Yuracari): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503f. |
| A1457.3 | Origin of the net for fishing. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 146; Maori: Clark 27f.; Tonga: Gifford 16. |
| A774 | Origin of the North Star. (Cf. A702.3.)—*Basset RTP XXII 355 and references to earlier volumes.—Hindu: Keith 165. |
| A795 | Origin of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 140 No. 8; Finnish: Aarne VIII 4 No. 9; Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 81, 287.—Eskimo (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 153, (Ungava): Turner RBAE XI 266. |
| A1446.5.6 | Origin of the oil-press. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1611.1.1 | Origin of the Ojibwa. Ojibwa: Jones JAFL XXIX 388, *Skinner JAFL XXXII 290. |
| A1446.3 | Origin of the ox-goad. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1446.5.2 | Origin of the pestle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A773 | Origin of the Pleiades. *Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 106; Frazer Ovid III 197 n. 4; *Basset RTP XXIII 396 and references to earlier volumes; *Dh II 83; Frazer Golden Bough VII 307ff.; *Fb "syvstjærne"; *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX N. 687f.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 29; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 336, 417, 427, 430.—India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 56.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 291 n. 71; (Blackfoot) Alexander N. Am. 96; (California) Gayton and Newman 65;—S. A. Indian (Tarahumare and Tepehuane): Alexander N. Am. 176; (Chaco, Pampean): Alexander Lat. Am. 323; (Amazon) ibid. 306.—Maori: Clark 106, 178.—Eskimo (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 173.—Africa: Werner African 229. |
| A1535.1 | Origin of the potlatch. A feast of the Indians of the Northwest Coast of America in which large amounts of property are given away to the guests. These feasts must be returned. Quileute: Farrand JAFL XXXII 258. |
| A791 | Origin of the Rainbow. *Wünsche "Der Regenbogen in den Mythen und Sagen der Völker" Nord und Süd LXXXII (1898) 70—82; *RTP XXIII 221 and references to earlier volumes.—Irish myth: Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 30; India: Thompson-Balys.—Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 234; S. Am. Indian (Amuesha): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 149, (Botocudo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 540, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 38; Zulu: Callaway 293, 295. |
| A1689.7 | Origin of the Russian calendar. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 101. |
| A1446.1 | Origin of the saw. Invented by devil.—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 85 No. 30b. |
| A920 | Origin of the seas. Jewish: Neuman; Persian: Carnoy 270, 277f.—Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 87; Buin: Wheeler 28.—Hatt: Asiatic Influences 17. |
| A1319.11 | Origin of the sensation of tickling. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A796 | Origin of the signs of the zodiac. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A771.1 | Origin of the Southern Cross. Analogous legends in the southern hemisphere with those of Ursa Major in the northern.—Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 113.—Macobi (Pampean): Alexander Lat. Am. 319. |
| A1611.5.4.3 | Origin of the Tuatha Dé Danann regarded as an early tribe. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1461.4 | Origin of the use of the rattle. Ojibwa: Skinner JAFL XXXII 290. |
| A1559.1 | Origin of the village dormitory. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A2817 | Origin of the will-o'-the-wisp (jack-o'-lantern). Type 330.—Africa (Fang): Trilles 138. |
| A1446.5.4 | Origin of the winnowing-fan. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1341.3 | Origin of thefts and quarrels. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1345.1 | Origin of thirst. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2688.1 | Origin of thistles. (See A2615.1, A2631.1.)—Irish myth: Cross; Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 23 No. 130; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2624.1 | Origin of thorn tree from staff of Joseph of Arimathea. England: Baughman. |
| A2688.1.1 | Origin of thorn-bush. Fb "torn" III 827a; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1142.4 | Origin of thunder clouds: from wings of mountains. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1142 | Origin of thunder. *Blinkenberg The Thunderweapon in Religion and Folklore (Cambridge 1911); *Saintyves Pierres magiques (Paris 1936); Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 82 No. 9a.; India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman.—Cook Group: Dixon 88; Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 175, (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 153, (Cape York): Rasmussen III 62; Nootka: Sapir JAFL XXXII 354; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 683f.; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 97, (Bushman): Bleek and Lloyd 113, Liberian: Bundy JAFL XXXII 422f. |
| A1142.0.1 | Origin of thunderbolt. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A913 | Origin of tides. *Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens II 513 s.v. "Ebbe und Flut".—Persian: Carnoy 278.—Shetland Is.: Teit JAFL XXXI 198.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 293 n. 76a, and add (Malecite) Speck JAFL XXVIII 60, (Tahltan) Teit JAFL XXXII 201. |
| A1511 | Origin of time for meals. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 141 No. 17; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1548 | Origin of tithing. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2161 | Origin of toad. *Fb "lærke" II 499b (Cf. A1755).—Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 124ff., 128f.; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2691.2 | Origin of tobacco. (See A2611.2, A2611.2.1.)—Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 131 No. 88; India: *Thompson-Balys; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 58; S. Am. Indian (Cariri): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 559. |
| A1316.5 | Origin of tongue. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1148 | Origin of tornado sunsets; i.e., peculiar sunsets foreboding tornadoes. —Ekoi: Talbot 364. |
| A2312.1 | Origin of tortoise's shell. (See A2215.3, A2231.1.4, A2213.3, A2211.10.)—Dh III 9.—India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Yoruba: Ellis 273 No. 6. |
| A1471.1 | Origin of trade between two places. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2632.2 | Origin of tree for crucifixion of Christ. Planted by Adam's son on the grave of primeval father. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 66. |
| A2767 | Origin of tree's needles. |
| A2681 | Origin of trees. (See A2612.1.)—Finnish: Kalevala rune 2; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325—26; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1640 | Origin of tribal subdivisions. India: Thompson-Balys; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 502.—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 207; S. Am. Indian (Tropical Forest): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (3) 53. |
| A1614.4 | Origin of tribes from choices made. |
| A1614.4.1 | Origin of tribes from kinds of meat they choose. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2686.5 | Origin of turmeric. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1179.1 | Origin of twilight. |
| A1337.1 | Origin of ulcers. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 142 No. 21; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 42. |
| A1352.1 | Origin of unrestricted sexual intercourse between husband and wife. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| A1317 | Origin of urine and excreta. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A983 | Origin of valleys or hollows. Jewish: Neuman; Tonga: Gifford 89. |
| A1611.3 | Origin of various African tribes. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1611.5 | Origin of various European peoples. |
| A1611.6 | Origin of various Near Eastern peoples. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A925 | Origin of various qualities of the sea. |
| A1611.4 | Origin of various tribes of India. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1610 | Origin of various tribes. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 328; Persian: Carnoy 298.—Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 52 No. 12**; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 85 No. 39; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 34 No. 7, 35 No. 9; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 85 No. 43a; India: Thompson Balys. |
| A776.1 | Origin of Vega (Alpha Lyrae). Maori: Beckwith Myth 101; Korean: Zong in-Sob No. 6. |
| A2686 | Origin of vegetables. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A781 | Origin of Venus (planet). *RTP XVII 227 and references to earlier volumes.—Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 434f., 535—540; India: Thompson-Balys; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 432.—Eskimo: Alexander N. Am. 9; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 365, (Viracocha): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 550; Africa (Fang): Trilles 136. |
| A991 | Origin of villages. Jegerlehner Oberwallis 308 No. 36; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1461.1 | Origin of violin. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 84 No. 30a; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A966 | Origin of volcanoes. Maori: Clark 43. |
| A1838 | Origin of walrus. Eskimo (Central): Boas RBAE VI 587. |
| A1341 | Origin of war among men. Irish myth: Cross; Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 469; Africa (Konnoh): Willans 136. |
| A1599.11.1 | Origin of war. Africa (Togo): Einstein 8. |
| A1599.1 | Origin of warning beacon. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A910 | Origin of water features—general. |
| A1441.3 | Origin of water wheel and rice growing. Chinese: Graham. |
| A1453.2 | Origin of weaving. Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 171; Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 7 No. 27; India: *Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 113, (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 685. |
| A1555.1 | Origin of wedding ceremony. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2688 | Origin of weeds. India: Thompson-Balys; Tonga: Gifford 22. |
| A2681.1 | Origin of weeping willow. (See A2632.1.) |
| A1471.2 | Origin of weights and measures. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2135 | Origin of whale.1 Eskimo (Central): Boas RBAE VI 637; Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 452. |
| A1427.2 | Origin of whiskey. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 340ff. |
| A1461.5 | Origin of whistle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1614 | Origin of white and colored races. Africa (Fjort): Dennett 101 No. 27, (Ekoi): Talbot 387, (Loango): Pechuël-Loesche 268, (Fang): Trilles 143, 152, 155, Einstein 178, (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 20 No. 3; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 163 No. 33. |
| A1614.9 | Origin of white man. Eskimo (Ungava): Turner RBAE XI 261, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 168. |
| A1878.1 | Origin of wild and domestic buffalo. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1871.1 | Origin of wild boar. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2665 | Origin of wild morning glory. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 282. |
| A2321.9 | Origin of willow-grouse's crest. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 209. |
| A1135 | Origin of wintry weather. |
| A1537.1 | Origin of wishing long life to person who sneezes. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 731. |
| A1599.10 | Origin of witchcraft. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2311.3 | Origin of wolf's skin. (See A2210.)—Dh I 151f., III 7. |
| A1611.5.4.1 | Origin of women in Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1313.4 | Origin of women's breasts. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 20; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 83 No. 27; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 53ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Apapocuva-Guarani): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 137. |
| A1465.5 | Origin of wood carving. Maori: Clark 114. |
| A2321.3 | Origin of woodpecker's crest. Dh III 18. |
| A2321.11 | Origin of woodpecker's crest. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2182 | Origin of worm. |
| A1546.5 | Origin of worship from holy books. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1546.2 | Origin of worship of particular god(s). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1546.1 | Origin of worship of rivers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1546 | Origin of worship. (Cf. V0-V99.)—Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A1423.1 | Origin of yams (sweet potatoes, taro). Samoa, Maori, Tonga: Beckwith Myth 101; Kai of New Guinea: ibid. 104; Tonga: Gifford 163, 169; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 317. |
| A2686.4.3 | Origin of yams. Tonga: Gifford 17. |
| A1429.2 | Origin of yeast: wasp stole it from the old woman underneath the earth. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A2656.2 | Origin of York and Lancaster rose. From dust and blood of slain of War of the Roses—a variety of rose unknown before that time. England: Baughman. |
| 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. |
| A1415.0.2 | Original fire property of one person (animal). Marquesas: Handy 12, 103; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 115, 121, 216; S. Am. Indian (Ashlushlay): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367, (Tapirape): Wagley-Galvao ibid. (3) 178, (Munderucú): Horton ibid. (3) 294, (Warrau, Chiriguano): *Métraux RMLP XXXIII 129. |
| A736.8 | Original moon changed into sun and sun into moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A711.3 | Originally a moon but no sun. Africa (Luba): Donohugh Africa V 180. |
| A2326.2.3 | Originally cock had horns. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 13. |
| A1319.12 | Originally man rejuvenated himself by snake-like change of skin. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 411. |
| A711.4 | Originally no sun. Africa (Bushongo): Torday 247. |
| A2219 | Other accidents to ancient animal. |
| A2540 | Other animal characteristics. |
| A33.4 | Other animal companions of creator. |
| A2426.4 | Other animal cries. |
| A522.3 | Other animals as culture hero. |
| A499 | Other deities. |
| A1082.2.1 | Other gods battle Fenris wolf at end of world. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A2499 | Other habits of animals: miscellaneous. |
| A2490 | Other habits of animals. |
| A2479 | Other habitual bodily movements of animals. |
| A990 | Other land features. |
| A671.0.1.1 | Other locations for hell. Jewish: Neuman. |
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