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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 |
|---|---|
| A757.1 | Moon-chariot. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A758 | Theft of moon. Moon is kept by a monster. It is stolen and brought to earth.—*BP III 288f. Cf. Thompson Tales 281 n. 42; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 483.—Finnish: Kalevala runes 47, 49. |
| A759 | Condition and nature of the moon—miscellaneous. For eclipse of the moon see A737, where both eclipses of the sun and moon are handled. |
| A759.1 | Moon has wooden weapons, therefore vulnerable. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A759.2 | Sun and moon as divine hero's wedding presents. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A759.3 | Why the moon is pale. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A759.4 | Moon is hare covered with silver, which lives in crystal house with fifteen windows. It rests on a chariot and travels around Mount Meru.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A759.5 | Formerly seven moons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A759.6 | Moon under direct control of deity. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 854. |
| A759.7 | Planet Mars lies on moon to impart warmth to her lest she freeze the earth. (Cf. A780). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A760 | Creation and condition of the stars. *Normann Mythen der Sterne (Gotha 1925) 75ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325—26; Irish myth: Cross; Babylonian: Spence 79; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 205; Eskimo (Ungava): Turner RBAE XI 266; Maori: Clark 16; S. Am. Indian (Jivaro): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 148. |
| A760.1 | Stars created by creator. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A760.2 | Star from union of girl with peacock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A761 | Ascent to stars. People or animals ascend to the sky and become stars.—*Dh I 289.—Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 534f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 14 No. 6; Japanese: Ikeda.—Hawaii: Henry 345; Tonga: Gifford 20; Maori: Clark 50; Australian: Dixon 299; Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 174; S. Am. Indian (Jivaro): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 129, 140f., Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 627, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 34, (Yuracari): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 144, (Eastern Brazil): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 434, (Tapirape): Wagley-Galvao BBAE CXLIII (3) 178, (Amyara): Tschopik BBAE CXLIII (2) 571; Ekoi: Talbot 355. |
| A761.1 | River taken to sky becomes star. Eridanos.—Fox 244. |
| A761.2 | Chariot from heaven takes couple to live with sages in the Great Bear. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A761.3 | Stars as transformed lovers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A761.4 | Stars as fires in the hearths of ghosts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A761.5 | Stars are men peering through holes in sky. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 30. |
| A761.6 | Stars thought of as living beings. S. Am. Indian (Warrau): Kirchoff BBAE CXLIII (3) 879. |
| A762 | Star descends as human being. Persian: Carnoy 269; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 56. |
| A762.1 | Star-husband. Star takes mortal maiden as wife.—**Thompson "The Star-husband Tale," Studia Septentrionalia IV (Oslo 1953) 93-163; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 330 n. 193, Alexander N. Am. 94, Hatt Asiatic Influences. Cf. Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 538f. |
| A762.2 | Mortal marries star-girl. Chinese: Graham; African (Lamba): Doke Lamba Folk-Lore 14 No. 11; S. Am. Indian (Camacan): Métraux-Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII (1) 552, (Chaco): Métraux ibid. 369, (Sherente): Louis ibid. 516, (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 48, (Carajá): Métraux ibid. 49, (Chamacoco): ibid. 48, (Apinaye, Canella): ibid. 48. |
| A763 | Stars from objects thrown into sky. Germanic: Herrmann Nordische Mythologie 365, 440; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 328; India: Thompson-Balys; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 431.—African: Frobenius Atlantis I 85.—Fox: Jones PAES I 73. |
| A763.1 | Stars from arrows shot at sky. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A763.2 | Stars hung by god in heavens to decorate it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A764 | Stars as pieces of the moon. *BP I 232; Köhler-Bolte I 484, 505; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A764.1 | Stars as children of the moon. Cook Zeus I 523 n. 6.—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: Kruyt Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land-, en Volkenkunde van Nederlandsch-Indië LXXIX 470; Philippines: Beckwith Myth 537; S. Am. Indian (Amyara): Tschopik BBAE CXLIII (2) 571. |
| A764.1.1 | Stars as children of sun eaten by their father. Hence no stars in the day.—Frazer Ovid III 205; Hatt Asiatic Influences 74f.—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Fang): Trilles 172. |
| A764.1.2 | Sun eats all his own children except morning star, while moon keeps all her children in hiding. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A764.1.3 | Stars as children of sun and moon. Africa (Fang): Trilles 171, 174. |
| A764.2 | Stars as drops of the moon's blood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A764.3 | Most brilliant stars children of the sun; others are children of the moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A764.4 | Stars are transformed spittle of the moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A765 | Naming the stars. The "Great Star" names the stars.—Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 79. |
| A766 | Origin of constellations. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 176.—Quileute: Farrand JAFL XXXII 266; Ojibwa: Carson JAFL XXX 493; S. Am. Indian (Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 288, (Mojo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 424, (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss ibid. 348.—African: Werner African 229.—For the origin of particular constellations see A770—A779. |
| A767 | Stars sing together. Hebrew: Job 38:7; Jewish: Neuman; Pawnee: Alexander N. Am. 110. |
| A769 | Creation of the stars—miscellaneous. |
| A769.1 | Stars are trees growing on the clouds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A769.2 | Stars rebel against God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A769.3 | Stars supervised by angels. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A769.4 | Speaking stars. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A769.5 | Sun gives light to stars. S. Am. Indian (Viracocha): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 550. |
| A770 | Origin of particular stars. **Normann Mythen der Sterne (Gotha 1925); *Frazer Ovid V 7 s.v. "constellations".—Chinese: Werner 189. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A772 | Origin of Orion. Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 108; *RTP XXI 102 and references to earlier volumes; *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 684f.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 177; Greek: Fox 249f.; Egyptian: Müller 57; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 429; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 81 No. 12.—S. A. Indian (Tarahumare and Tepehuane): Alexander N. Am. 176; (Amazon) Alexander Lat. Am. 307; N. American Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 67; Africa (Tonga): Gifford 100. |
| 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. |
| A773.1 | Pleiades a princess and six suitors among whom she could not choose. *Köhler-Bolte I 439f. |
| A773.2 | Pleiades six repudiated wives. They have been cast out for apparent infidelity.—Hindu: Keith 140. |
| A773.3 | Pleiades girls who died of grief. Greek: Fox 248. |
| A773.4 | Pleiades seven illegitimate children. *Fb "pige" II 816b. |
| A773.5 | Pleiades from hunters marooned in sky after felling world-tree. S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 25, BBAE CXLIII (1) 366. |
| A773.6 | Pleiades as swarm of bees. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 483. |
| A773.7 | Two stars from Great Bear constellation transferred to Pleiades. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A774 | Origin of the North Star. (Cf. A702.3.)—*Basset RTP XXII 355 and references to earlier volumes.—Hindu: Keith 165. |
| A775 | Origin of Hyades. Greek: Fox 46, 248ff., Frazer Apollodorus I 321 n. 5; African: Werner African 229; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 365, MAFLS XL 21. |
| A776 | Origin of constellation Lyra. Greek (Orpheus's lyre). |
| A776.1 | Origin of Vega (Alpha Lyrae). Maori: Beckwith Myth 101; Korean: Zong in-Sob No. 6. |
| A777 | Origin of constellation Scorpio. Maori: Clark 56; Cook Is.: Clark 81, 83; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 483, (Toba, Vilela): Métraux MAFLS XL 21f. |
| 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. |
| A778.0.1 | Origin of Magellanic Clouds. Tonga: Gifford 105, 109; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 21f., 47, (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 483. |
| A778.1 | Milky Way a hunting party. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 436.—Tehuelche (Pategonia): Alexander Lat. Am. 336. |
| A778.1.1 | Milky Way is the Wild Hunt. German: Brunk Zs. f. Vksk. XIII 184; Russian: Ralston Songs of the Russian People 109; Hungarian: Spolyi Zs. f. deutsche Myth. II 161; Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 82; Greek-Latin: Cook Zeus II 37. |
| A778.2 | Milky Way as a road. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 20, Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 365. |
| A778.2.1 | Milky Way as path of souls (demons). Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 82.—Mandan, Pawnee: Alexander N. Am. 96, 117; S. Am. Indian (Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 307, (Chaco, Pampean): ibid. 323. |
| A778.3 | Milky Way as a river. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 435; Japanese: Ikeda.—Blackfoot: De Josselyn de Jong Blackfoot Texts 29ff. |
| A778.4 | Milky Way as a stitched seam in the sky. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 336, 434. |
| A778.5 | Milky Way as milk from breast of a woman. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 414. |
| A778.6 | Milky Way as the sperma of the gods. Eisler Weltenmantel und Himmelszelt 482. |
| A778.7 | Milky Way as path of a bird of passage. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 434; S. Am. Indian (Paс'): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, (Chiriguano): Métraux ibid. 483. |
| A778.8 | Milky Way is smoke (ashes). African: Werner African 231; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 21, (Mocovi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 365. |
| A778.9 | Milky Way as race track. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 66. |
| A778.10 | Abyss at end of Milky Way. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 20f. |
| A779 | Origin of stars—miscellaneous. Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 22; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 21f. |
| A779.1 | Origin of Coal Sack. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 22, 47. |
| A779.2 | Origin of constellation Aquila. Gaster Thespis 293. |
| A779.3 | Origin of constellation Argo. Greek: Grote I 221. |
| A780 | The planets (comets, etc.).—*Normann Mythen der Sterne (Gotha 1925).—Chinese: Graham. |
| A780.1 | Planets supervised by angels. Jewish: Neuman. |
| 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. |
| A781.1 | Origin of Morning Star. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 466; Chinese: Graham.—Maori: Clark 50; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 23, (Warrau): Kirchoff BBAE CXLIII (3) 880. |
| A781.2 | Origin of Evening Star. Greek: Fox 247; Maori: Clark 50; Tonga: Gifford 110. |
| A782 | Origin of Jupiter (planet). Africa: Werner African 229; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A786 | Origin of comets. Frazer Ovid III 198 n. 4.—Tahiti: Henry 227; S. Am. Indian (Viracocha): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 551. |
| A787 | Relation of the planets to human life. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A788 | Origin of meteors. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 24, (Viracocha): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 551. |
| A788.1 | Falling stars as pieces of the moon. S. Am. Indian (Guayaki): Métraux-Baldus BBAE CXLIII (1) 444. |
| A788.2 | Shooting star one that has come down to graze. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A788.3 | Shooting stars spirits coming down to earth to make woman pregnant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A788.4 | Shooting stars are star-dung. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 624. |
| A788.5 | Shooting stars are unfaithful wives. Africa (Fang): Trilles 174. |
| A790 | The heavenly lights. |
| A790.1 | Heavenly lights originate from firmament. Jewish: Neuman. |
| 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. |
| A791.1 | Rainbow as bow of deity. Gaster Thespis 261 n. 21; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 443f. |
| A791.2 | Rainbow as snake. African: Werner African 234; S. Am. Indian (Moré): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 406, (Ashluslay): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 38, (Vilela): ibid. 40. |
| A791.3 | Rainbow made as bridge by the gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 329. |
| A791.4 | Rainbow has three colors. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 329. |
| A791.5 | Rainbow is a transformed king; the lesser rainbow is the king's wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.6 | Rainbow from gods' emptying their drinking cups. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.7 | Rainbow is horse of rain-god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.8 | Rainbow comes out of an anthill. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.8.1 | Rainbow lives in a hole. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 38. |
| A791.9 | Origin of rainbow: transformed butterflies (souls of lovers). Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 266. |
| A791.10 | Rainbow as covenant between creator and men. Jewish: Neuman. |
| 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. |
| A796 | Origin of the signs of the zodiac. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A797 | Origin of colors at sunrise and sunset. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/191). |
| A800 | Creation of the earth. *H. F. Feilberg Skabelses og Syndflodssagn (1915); A. Kühn Berichte über den Weltanfang bei den Indochinesen und ihren Nachbarvölker (1935); Irish myth: Cross; Persian: Carnoy 280; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.—N. A. Indian (general): Thompson Tales 272 n. 1, (Ojibwa) Skinner JAFL XXXII 287, (Kaska) Teit JAFL XXX 441ff.—See also all references in this section (A800-839). |
| A801 | Earth born of Chaos. Greek: Grote I 4ff. |
| A802 | China first land to appear in our world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A810 | Primeval water: In the beginning everything is covered with water.—**Dh I 1—89 passim; Gaster Oldest Stories 69.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325—26; Finnish: Kalevala rune 1; Egyptian: Müller 48; Babylonian: Spence 71; Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 313ff.; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 786; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Batak: Voorhoeve Oversicht 63ff.; Marquesas: Handy 122; Marshall Is.: Davenport 221; Oceanic: Dixon 8 n. 7 (Maori), 18f. (Samoa), 20 (Society Is., Tonga), 105 (Admiralty Is., Polynesia, Indonesia, Micronesia), 157 (Minahassa), 158f. (Borneo), 248f. (Marshall Is., Yap), 270 (Arunta); Bushongo: Werner African 144, African: Stanley 5; S. Am. Indian (Guarayu): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 437.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 29, Alexander N. Am 260 (Haida), (Calif.): Gayton and Newman 53; Mixtec: Alexander Lat. Am. 86; Quiché: ibid. 160. |
| A810.1 | God and Devil fly together over primeval water. Dh I 6. |
| A810.2 | Primeval water to subside in a specified time. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 55. |
| A810.2.1 | Waters of heaven would engulf earth were it not for firmament. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A811 | Earth brought up from bottom of primeval water. (Cf. A812.)—India: Thompson-Balys.—New Britain, New Hebrides: Dixon 105. |
| A811.1 | Earth originates from fish brought from bottom of sea. The fish is hacked with knives; hence, mountains.—Oceanic (Maori, Hawaiian, Central Polynesian, Tonga, Samoan, New Hebrides, Union Group, Gilbert Is., New Britain): Dixon 43f. |
| A811.2 | Earth brought up by three gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 326. |
| A812 | Earth Diver. From a raft in the primeval sea, the creator sends down animals to try to bring up earth. After a number of animals have failed, one (often the muskrat) succeeds. The earth is made from the bit brought up.—**E. W. Count The Earth Diver and the Rival Twins (Proceedings 29th International Congress of Americanists [Chicago, 1952] 55-62); Walk "Die Verbreitung des Tauchmotivs in den Urmeerschöpfungs- (und Sintflut-) Sagen" Mitteil. d. anthrop. Gesellschaft Wien LXIII (1933) 60-76.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 318, *322ff.; Hatt Asiatic Influences 12-36, India: *Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 30, (Calif. Indian): Gayton and Newman 53. |
| A812.1 | Devil as Earth Diver. Satan dives for earth at instance of God. Succeeds only third time (by use of right formula). He hides the earth under his tongue. It swells, and he must be rescued by God.—*Dh I 2-89 passim, *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 277ff.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 3 No. 1; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 455f., Aarne FFC XXV 139 No. 1; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 80 No. 1; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3005; Legends Nos. 7-12;10, 12f.; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 313ff. |
| A812.2 | Earth from egg from bottom of sea recovered by bird.—Borneo: Dixon 165. |
| A812.3 | Creator sends crow, after creating her, to scout for earth-nucleus. —India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A813 | Raft in primeval sea. Creator is on the raft and there creates the earth. (Cf. A812.)—India: Thompson-Balys; Sumatra: Dixon 162. |
| A813.1 | Earth in form of raft supported by spirits. S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503. |
| A813.2 | Lotus-leaf raft in primeval sea. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A813.3 | Creator rests on tree or stake. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 55. |
| A814 | Earth from object thrown on primeval water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A814.1 | Earth from stone thrown on primeval water. Oceanic: Dixon 18 (Samoa), 158 (Borneo), 163 n. 29-32. (Philippines, Samoa, Tonga, Micronesia). |
| A814.2 | Earth from sand strewn on primeval water. India: Thompson-Balys; Yap: Dixon 249. |
| A814.3 | Earth from decayed matter on primeval water. Mongolian, Japanese, Tungus: Holmberg Siberian 328f.; Japanese: Anesaki 223.—Hawaii: Dixon 15. |
| A814.4 | Earth from tree grown in primeval water. Tungus: Holmberg Siberian 329. |
| A814.5 | Earth from steam made by fire thrown into primeval water. Tungus: Holmberg Siberian 330. |
| A814.6 | Earth scattered in a circuit in four directions on primeval water. India: Thompson-Balys; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 55. |
| A814.7 | Earth from primeval water mixed with seeds of tobacco. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 55. |
| A814.8 | Earth from lotus seed placed on water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A814.9 | Earth from egg breaking on primeval water. (Cf. A1222).—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A814.10 | Earth from creator's spittle falling on primeval water.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A814.10.1 | Earth from spittle of primeval potter spreading on surface of water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A815 | Earth from turtle's back. Earth erected on back of a turtle floating in primeval water. (Cf. A844.1.).—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 31. |
| A815.1 | Earth from serpent's head. Earth reared on head of serpent floating in primeval water.—Borneo, Sumatra: Dixon 159f. |
| A816 | Earth rises from sea. *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 279.—Icel: *Olrik Ragnarök 23, MacCulloch Eddic 325.—Mixtec: Alexander Lat. Am. 86. |
| A816.1 | Stone emerges from primeval water. Devil sits on the stone, which becomes a mountain.—*Dh I 6. |
| A816.2 | Ocean under this world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A816.3 | God causes primeval sea to roll back and leave bare all the hills. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A817 | Earth let down from sky on to primeval ocean. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 330. |
| A820 | Other means of creation of earth. |
| A821 | Earth made of lac. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A822 | Earth made by mud shaken from back of primeval boar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A822.1 | World is transformed mud parrot in golden cage. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A823 | Earth made by cups of earth placed on spider's web. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A824 | Earth made by transformation of broken ground. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A825 | Earth made by first couple dancing on bit of cloth laid on water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A826 | Earth sets like curds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A827 | Earth made by drying up of primeval water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A828 | Earth from worm scratched by creator's nails. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A828.1 | Earth excreted by worm. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A830 | Creation of earth by creator. Genesis ch. I.—Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Tahiti: Henry 341; Marquesas: Handy 122; Pawnee: Alexander N. Am. 109. |
| A831 | Earth from body of person (animal). |
| A831.1 | Earth from body of son of deity. India: Thompson-Balys; Kamchadale: Holmberg Siberian 330. |
| A831.2 | Earth from giant's body (Ymir). (Cf. A614.1.). *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 282.—Icel: MacCulloch Eddic 325; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A831.3 | Earth by sacrifice of son and daughter of first couple. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A831.4 | Earth by murder of first brother and sister. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A831.5 | Earth from the body of murdered child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A831.6 | Earth from body of slain animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A831.7 | Earth from body of divine suicide. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A831.8 | Gods create the earth from their dead victim's blood and bones. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A831.9 | Earth created from Adam's body. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A832 | Creation because of creator's lonesomeness. Dissatisfied at being alone in center of primeval water, God creates the earth.—*Dh I 35; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A833 | Earth from creator's cuticle. (Cf. A1211.5.). India: Thompson-Balys; San Carlos Apache: Goddard PaAM XXIV 7. |
| A835 | Earth from nut in devil's mouth. God throws a nut over his left shoulder. The devil catches it in his mouth. The nut grows rapidly and the devil spits it out.—Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 80 No. 1. |
| A835.1 | Earth created from snow under divine throne. Jewish: Neuman |
| A836 | Creator prepared earth's nucleus as one would a rice cake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A837 | Creator creates earth piecemeal. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A840 | Support of the earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A841 | World-columns. Four (two, etc.) columns or supports sustain the earth. —Irish myth: Cross; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 385, 400; Jewish: Neuman; Greek: *Grote I 70; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX III No. 66.—Sumatra: Dixon 163; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 286 n. 56; Maya: Alexander Lat. Am. 154.—See also references to A665.2.1. |
| A841.0.1 | The four world-columns fastened immovably by two gods with their mother's hairs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A841.1 | Four world-cords. Earth is suspended from the sky by cords at four corners. India: Thompson-Balys; Cherokee: Alexander N.Am. 60. |
| A841.2 | Four maidens as earth-supports. One is at each of the cardinal points. (Cf. A842.).—Hindu: Keith 134. |
| A841.3 | Twelve iron pillars steady the earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A841.4 | Four earth-nails. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A842 | Atlas. A man supports the earth on his shoulders.—Greek: Fox 88, *Grote I 70; Gaster Oldest Stories 129.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 286 n. 56b; Chibcha: Alexander Lat. Am. 203. |
| A842.1 | Goddess standing on her head supports earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A842.2 | Old woman supports earth on her head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A843 | Earth supported on post. The post has an old woman as guardian. When she is hungry the post shakes, causing earthquakes.—Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 222.—N. A. Indian (Tlingit, Hare): Boas RBAE XXXI 732. |
| A843.1 | Earth supported on cross of wood. S. Am. Indian (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, (Apapocuvá): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 136. |
| A844 | Earth rests on animal's back. *Encyc. Religion and Ethics I 491b. |
| A844.1 | Earth rests on turtle's back. (Cf. A815.).—Siberian: *Holmberg Siberian 327; India: *Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 31. |
| A844.2 | Earth supported by bull. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 311; Armenian: Ananikian 93. |
| A844.3 | Earth supported by fish. *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 281.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian. |
| A844.4 | Earth supported by frog. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 311. |
| A844.5 | Earth rests on the horns of a bull who rests upon a fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.6 | Earth rests on tortoise, serpent, elephant. (Cf. A1145.1.).—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.7 | Earth rests on elephant's back. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.8 | Earth rests on cobra's head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.9 | Earth supported on great boar's tusk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.10 | Earth supported on vast number of birds' legs. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A844.11 | Earth rests on leviathan. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A844.12 | Serpent supports the earth. (Cf. A844.6.). Hindu: Keith 120, 155, Penzer VI 71 n. 1 (thousand-headed serpent); India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A849 | Support of the earth—miscellaneous. |
| A849.1 | Earth founded on stone. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A849.2 | Earth rests on God's arm. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A849.3 | Earth supported by prop. S. Am. Indian (Apapocuvá-Guaraní): Métraux MAFLS XL 36. |
| A850 | Changes in the earth. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A853.1 | Doubling size of the earth. Increase of population necessitates change. —Persian: Carnoy 307. |
| A855 | Opposite of present. Everything on the earth—courses of rivers, height of mountains, human reproduction, etc.—are at first the reverse of the present condition.—N. A. Indian: Kroeber JAFL XXI 225. |
| A856 | Hardening of the earth. At first it is soft, but is hardened by sun's rays.—India: Thompson-Balys.—Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. 39. |
| A856.1 | Primeval earth hardened by wind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A856.2 | Ground, previously all wet, dries up when first woman cuts her little finger and blood drips on ground. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A857 | Steadying the earth. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A857.1 | Why earth becomes warm and wet: two huge copper vessels steaming over fire are underneath earth.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A857.2 | Creator's giant servant puts a valley where earth's crust is heavy and a mountain where it is light so as to stabilize it.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A857.3 | Creator's giant servant puts trees to hold earth together where it slipped. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A857.3.1 | Roots created to hold land firm. Tahiti: Henry 342. |
| A870 | Nature and condition of the earth. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325. |
| A871 | Earth square with four quarters. Irish myth: Cross; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 308. |
| A871.0.1 | Taprobane at eastern end of the world. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A871.0.2 | Unextinguishable fire at end of earth. S. A. Indian (Mbayá, Mataco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367. |
| A871.1 | Four streams from four corners of earth. Patch PMLA XXXIII 623 n. 77. |
| A871.2 | Four rivers, rising in paradise, water primitive world. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A872 | River that flows around the world. Greek: *Grote I 220, 232, 310 (River Ocean); Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A872.1 | Seven seas encircle the world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A873 | Above and below the earth are great clouds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A875 | Earth wheel-shaped (flat and round). Greek: Grote I 4, 310; Hindu: Keith 16; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 308. |
| A875.1 | Navel of the earth. Omphalos, the central point on the earth disc.—*Holmberg Baum des Lebens 150 s.v. "Mittelpunkt"; *Frazer Pausanias V 314f.; *Pease Cicero De Divinatione 353 (Bk. II 115); *Roscher Abh. kgl. Sächs. Ges. d. Wiss. (Phil. hist. Kl.) XXIX (1913) 9, XXXI (1915) 1, Berichte d. kgl Sächs. Ges. d. Wiss. (Phil. hist. Kl.) LXX (1918) 2; Warren Paradise Found (1885) 225ff.; Gaster Thespis 170f.; Jewish: Neuman; Norse: Boberg. |
| A875.1.1 | Mountain at center of earth. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1136. |
| A875.2 | Well in the midst of earth from which eleven rivers originate. (Cf. A871.1.) Icel.: Boberg. |
| A876 | Midgard Serpent. A serpent surrounds the earth.—Icel.: De la Saussaye 346, MacCulloch Eddic 279, 328, Boberg; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 345; Western Asia (general): Frobenius Erdteile VI 196; India: Thompson-Balys.—Arapaho: cf. Dorsey FM IV 13; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 57. |
| A876.1 | The leviathan that surrounds the globe. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A878 | Earth-tree. Tree of life or fate.—*Wünsche "Das Wasser des Lebens in den Märchen der Völker" Zs. f. vgl. Litteraturgeschichte XIII 166ff.; **Holmberg Baum; Dh I 6 (five eastern branches given to man, others forbidden); *Albright Am. Jour. Semitic Langs. XXXIX 161.—*Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 150ff., 200.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 331ff. (Yggdrasil); Irish Myth: Cross; Egyptian: Müller 36. |
| A878.1 | Stream of paradise from roots of world-tree. Holmberg Baum 70ff.; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 320f., 334. |
| A878.1.1 | Other streams from roots of earth-tree. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A878.1.2 | Three wells under the three roots of earth-tree. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A878.2 | Lake of milk by tree of life. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 414. |
| A878.3 | Animals at earth-tree. |
| A878.3.1 | Snake at roots of earth-tree. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 319, 332; Boberg; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 357. |
| A878.3.2 | Hart(s) eating of the earth-tree. Holmberg Baum 67ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 332ff., Boberg. |
| A878.3.3 | Chattering squirrel in the earth-tree. Holmberg Baum 67ff. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 332ff., Boberg. |
| A878.3.4 | Wise eagle in the earth-tree. Holmberg Baum 67ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 332ff., Boberg. |
| A878.3.5 | Hawk in the earth-tree. Holmberg Baum 67ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 332ff., Boberg. |
| A878.3.6 | Golden cock in earth-tree. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A878.4 | Earth-tree furnishes health-giving and hunger-satisfying sap. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 350, 353. |
| A881 | Zones of earth corresponding to Zodiac. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A900 | Topography—general considerations. |
| A901 | Topographical features caused by experiences of primitive hero (demigod, deity). Footprints of the gods, thoroughfares of heroes, etc.—*Dh II 8, 68, 199; *Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens III 240 s.v. "Fussspur"; *Wehrhan Die Sage 65; *Basset and others RTP XXIV 299 and references to earlier volumes.—Irish myth: Cross; Breton: MacCulloch Celtic 135; Icel.: De la Saussaye 280; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 303 Nos. 22, 23; Finnish: Kalevala rune 1; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3008, Legends Nos. 12ff.; Greek: Fox 250.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 331; Japanese: Anesaki 248f.; Indo-Chinese: Scott Indo-Chinese 291; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 31, 768, 957, 1211.—Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 18; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 70; Africa (Fang): Trilles 153.—Cf. A911, A920.1.2, A920.1.5, A924, A931, A932, A933, A941.1, A941.2, A951, A955, A964, A972, A982.1, A984. |
| A901.1 | Topographical changes or landmarks due to battle between gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A901.2 | Natural features because of combat of huge rock columns with each other. Marquesas: Handy 133. |
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