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.
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 |
|---|---|
| F134.0.1 | Series of otherworld islands. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F134.1 | Hebrides, Isle of Man (Falga) as otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F134.2 | Otherworld island disappears leaving voyagers in boat at sea. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F134.3 | Otherworld island divided into four parts. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F134.4 | Divine swans are on an inaccessible island in middle of seven seas. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F135 | Bruidhen (banqueting-hall) as otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F136 | Direction of otherworld. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F136.1 | Otherworld in east. Jewish: Neuman; Marshall Islands: Davenport 223. |
| F136.2 | Otherworld in west. Jewish: Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 79. |
| F136.3 | Otherworld in northwest. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F137 | Distance of otherworld. *Siuts 19ff.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F140 | Bounds of the otherworld. *Siuts 44. |
| F140.1 | Guardian of spirit-land boundary. Maori: Clark 135. |
| F141 | Water barrier to otherworld. Wimberly 110.—Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F141.0.1 | Otherworld beyond water confused with otherworld under water. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F141.0.2 | Otherworld beyond water confused with otherworld under hill. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F141.1 | River as barrier to otherworld. (Cf. F162.2.) Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F141.1.1 | Perilous river as barrier to otherworld. (Cf. F767.1.) *Patch PMLA XXXIII 630, 638ff.; Alphabet No. 603.—Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 78, III 165; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 140; Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 245 No. 1. |
| F141.1.2 | River that cannot be crossed by mortals. Hindu: Penzer II 15. |
| F141.1.3 | River between the realms of giants and gods never freezes. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 276. |
| F141.2 | Mist as barrier to otherworld. Patch XXXIII 627 n. 91.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F141.2.1 | Storm (snow, hail) as barrier to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F141.3 | Waves form high wall around otherworld isle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F141.4 | Waterfall as barrier to otherworld. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 95. |
| F142 | River of fire as barrier to otherworld. (Cf. A671.2.2.3.) Patch PMLA XXXIII 638f.; Krappe Archiv für das Studium der neueren Sprachen (1937) 172ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F143 | Wood at borders of otherworld. *Siuts 30ff.; MLN XXXIV 321; Irish: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 245 No. 1. |
| F144 | Plain (field) at borders of otherworld. *Siuts 36ff. |
| F144.1 | Forked glen full of toads, lions on way to otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F145 | Mountain at borders of otherworld. *Siuts 42ff.; Patch Other World 381 s.v. "mountain"; Gaster Thespis 184f.; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| F145.1 | Glass mountain at borders of otherworld. Mountain is extremely slippery. *Siuts 43; Patch PMLA XXXIII 610 n. 30, Other World 381 s.v. "mountain." |
| F147 | Houses at border of otherworld. (Cf. F163.3.) *Siuts 44ff. |
| F147.1 | Tenantless houses at border of otherworld. *Siuts 44f. |
| F147.2 | Hermit's hut at border of otherworld. *Siuts 45. |
| F147.3 | Witch's house at border of otherworld. *Siuts 45. |
| F147.4 | Inn at border of otherworld. *Siuts 46. |
| F148 | Wall around otherworld. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 209a s.v. "Baum bewacht"; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F148.1 | Fiery rampart revolves around otherworld isle. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F148.2 | Wall of silver around otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F148.3 | Otherworld surrounded by palisade of gold and silver. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F148.4 | Palisade of bronze around otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F148.5 | Otherworld surrounded by seven walls and locks of iron and doors of iron. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F149 | Bounds of the otherworld—miscellaneous. |
| F149.1 | Stone barrier to otherworld. (Cf. F150.3.2.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 95, III 165, Rink 461. |
| F150 | Access to otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F150.1 | Way to otherworld hard to find. Siuts 29; English: Gawain and the Green Knight; Chinese: Graham. |
| F150.2 | Entrance to other world guarded by monsters (or animals). Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Babylonian: Spence 171; Jewish: *Neuman; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 47, 74, 80, Rasmussen I 81. |
| F150.2.1 | Entrance to otherworld guarded by giant (champion). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F150.2.2 | Entrance to otherworld guarded by spirits. Jewish: Neuman; Maori: Clark 37. |
| F150.2.3 | Entrance to otherworld guarded by north and south winds. Tonga: Gifford 171. |
| F150.3 | Challenge at entrance of otherworld. The adventurer challenges or is challenged. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F150.3.1 | Shield hung on pole in front of otherworld palace as signal that adventurer must fight with owner. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F150.3.2 | Standing stone surrounded by withe as challenge at entrance of otherworld. (Cf. F149.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F151 | Road to otherworld. Siuts 29f.—Irish myth: Cross. |
| F151.0.1 | Hospitable host entertains (guides, advises) adventurer on way to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F151.1 | Perilous path to otherworld. Patch Other World 382 s.v. "path"; Irish myth: *Cross; N. A. Indian: Alexander N. Am. 147, 164, 273 n. 8, (California): Gayton and Newman 101; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 78, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 586. |
| F151.1.1 | Perilous valley. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F151.1.2 | Perilous glen on way to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F151.1.3 | Perilous forest on way to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F151.1.4 | Perilous ford on way to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F151.1.5 | Place in underworld beyond which hero cannot pass without being tatooed. Maori: Clark 136. |
| F151.1.6 | Path to otherworld over sharp rocks. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 186, Rink 326. |
| F151.2 | Mountain pass to otherworld. Africa: Bourhill and Drake 237ff. No. 20. |
| F152 | Bridge to otherworld. *Type 471; Encyc. Rel. Ethics II 852ff.; Patch PMLA XXXIII 630ff., Other World 374 s.v. "bridge"; Ward II 399, 441; Rуheim Animism 39ff.; Fb "bro" IV 62b; Darmesteter Sacred Books of the East IV 212f.; Alphabet No. 603.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 130, 305; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 488ff.; Melanesia: Codrington 257; Eskimo (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 153; N. A. Indian: Brinton Myths of the New World (New York, 1868) 248, (Menomini): Skinner PaAM XIII 86. |
| F152.0.1 | Bridge to otherworld guarded by animals. Patch PMLA XXXIII 635ff.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F152.1 | Materials of bridge to otherworld. |
| F152.1.1 | Rainbow bridge to otherworld. Fb "regnbue" III 32a; RTP VI 361, X 596; Mélusine II 16; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 329; Celebes: Dixon 156; Hawaii, Indonesia: ibid. 67, Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 38, 321; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 333 n. 204a. |
| F152.1.2 | Bridge of sunbeams to otherworld. (Cf. F154.) Wimberly 114; Patch Other World 248, 254. |
| F152.1.3 | Golden bridge to otherworld. Patch PMLA XXXIII 639 n. 130, Other World 374 s.v. "bridge." |
| F152.1.4 | Glass bridge to otherworld. Patch PMLA XXXIII 636 n. 118, Other World 125f.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F152.1.5 | Rope bridge to otherworld. Patch PMLA XXXIII 636 n. 118.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F152.1.6 | Sword bridge to otherworld. Hibbard Romanic Review IX (1913) 166; Patch PMLA XXXIII 635ff., Other World 374 s.v. "bridge"; Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 197. |
| F152.1.6.1 | Bridge to otherworld covered with knives. BP III 43; Von Hegelein Zs. f. Vksk. XI 150 n. 2. |
| F152.1.7 | Bridge of thread on way to world of dead. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F152.1.8 | Aurora as bridge to otherworld. Eskimo (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 153. |
| F152.2 | Slamming drawbridge to otherworld. Slams as hero leaves and (almost) injures him. He has failed to do the one compulsory thing. (Percival.) *Krappe Balor 106ff.; Patch Otherworld 204f., 319 n. 64. |
| F153 | Otherworld reached by diving into water (of well or lake). *Brown Iwain 76; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 148; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G 3/1301). |
| F153.1 | Underground channel to otherworld. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F154 | Path to sun on sun's rays (eyelashes). (Cf. F152.1.2.) N. A. Indian (Bella Coola): Boas JE I 83. |
| F155 | Journey to otherworld by clinging magically to an object. *Brown Iwain 110 n. 1; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F156 | Door to otherworld. (Cf. F91.) Patch Other World 377 s.v. "gate"; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F156.1 | Door to otherworld island sounds sleep-bringing music. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F156.2 | Door to otherworld island in supporting pedestal. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F156.3 | Perilous revolving wheel at entrance to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F156.4 | Slamming (falling) door to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F156.5 | Eleven portals to otherworld. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 46. |
| F157 | Journey to otherworld in boat. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| F157.1 | Journey to otherworld in crystal (glass) boat. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F158 | Pit entrance to otherworld. (Cf. F92.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F159 | Other means to reach the otherworld. |
| F159.1 | Otherworld reached by hunting animal. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F159.2 | Journey to otherworld on horseback. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F159.3 | Wheel (apple) to be followed to otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F159.4 | Demon guide on otherworld journey. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F160 | Nature of the otherworld. Wimberly 139ff.—Irish myth: *Cross, Beal XXI 329; Jewish: Neuman. |
| F160.0.1 | Otherworld overseas confused with otherworld underground. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F160.0.1.1 | Otherworld overseas confused with otherworld under water. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F160.0.2 | Fairy otherworld confused with land of the dead. (Cf. A671.0.4.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F160.0.3 | Pagan otherworld identified with Christian paradise (heaven). (Cf. A694.1.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F160.1 | Otherworld as great plain. (Cf. A663.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F160.2 | Otherworld as valley. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F161 | Weather in otherworld. |
| F161.1 | Perpetual summer in otherworld. No storms. Patch PMLA XXXIII 606; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F161.1.1 | Summer in otherworld when it is winter in world of mortals. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162 | Landscape of otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.0.1 | Objects of crystal in otherworld. *Patch PMLA XXXIII 606 n. 11, 610 n. 30, Other World 375 s.v. "crystal".—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.0.1.1 | Island of glass in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.0.1.2 | (Luminous) precious stones in otherworld (dwelling). (Cf. A661.0.7.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.1 | Garden in otherworld. Patch Other World 377 s.v. "garden"; *Siuts 68ff.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F162.1.1 | Everblooming garden in otherworld. *Wimberly 148; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.1.2 | Contrasting qualities found in otherworld garden. |
| F162.1.2.1 | Sweet and bitter fountain in otherworld garden. Patch PMLA XXXIII 620 n. 65, Other World 266; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.1.2.2 | Cool and boiling fountain in otherworld garden. (Cf. F162.8.) Patch PMLA XXXIII 620 n. 65, Other World 133, 144, 177. |
| F162.1.2.3 | Objects on one side of palisade in otherworld garden black, on other white. Patch PMLA XXXIII 620 n. 65.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.1.2.4 | Tree half green and half in flame in otherworld garden. Patch PMLA XXXIII 620 n. 65. |
| F162.1.2.5 | Island in otherworld garden inhabited half by dead and half by living. Patch PMLA XXXIII 620 n. 65. |
| F162.1.3 | Trees bloom, others bear concurrently in otherworld garden. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.1.3.1 | All-yielding tree in otherworld. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F162.2 | Rivers in otherworld. (Cf. A671.2.2.6, F141.1.) Patch PMLA XXXIII 621ff., Other World 382f. s.v. "river"; Gaster Oldest Stories 50, Thespis 171; Irish: *Cross, Beal XXI 321. |
| F162.2.1 | The four rivers of Paradise. *Patch PMLA XXXIII 622, Other World 383 s.v. "rivers, four"; Albright Am. Jour. Semitic Languages XXXIX 40ff.; Gaster Thespis 171.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 359. |
| F162.2.2 | Rivers of wine in otherworld. Wimberly 159; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F162.2.3 | Rivers of honey in otherworld. Wimberly 159; Gaster Thespis 200f., Oldest Stories 233; Africa (Hausa): Werner African 141 (milk and honey). |
| F162.2.4 | Rivers of mead in otherworld. Wimberly 159. |
| F162.2.5 | Rivers of balsam and attar in otherworld. *Patch PMLA XXXIII 621 n. 70; Irish: Beal XXI 319, O'Suilleabhain 52; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F162.2.6 | Rivers of oil, milk, wine, and honey in otherworld. *Patch PMLA XXXIII 623 n. 78; Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F162.2.7 | Thirteen rivers of balm in otherworld. Gaster Exempla 219 No. 154 (153). |
| F162.2.8 | River in paradise with terrible roar. Robs people of hearing. *Hertz Abhandlungen 86 n. 1. |
| F162.2.9 | Flowing stream forms arc over otherworld isle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F162.2.10 | Jewels in streams of otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F162.2.11 | Perilous river in otherworld. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 918. |
| F162.2.12 | River in underworld from tears of living. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 488. |
| F162.2.13 | Underworld river from blood of sick mortals. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 24. |
| F162.3 | Tree in otherworld. (Cf. F162.1.2.4, F162.1.2.5, F162.1.3.) Patch PMLA XXXIII 624, Other World 384 s.v. "tree"; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 286; Tonga: Gifford 149. |
| F162.3.0.1 | Marvelous tree grown from otherworld fruit. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F162.3.1 | Tree of Life in otherworld. Nourishes mankind. Patch PMLA XXXIII 625 n. 83, Other World 385 s.v. "Tree of Life"; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Penzer I 8 n., 144. |
| F162.3.2 | Wishing-tree in otherworld. Penzer I 8 n., 144. |
| F162.3.3 | Tree in otherworld in perpetual fruit. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 355. |
| F162.3.4 | Magic apple tree in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.3.4.1 | Magic apples (trees) under the sea. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F162.3.5 | Tree of knowledge of good and evil in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F162.3.6 | Tree with golden top in otherworld. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 33. |
| F162.4 | Sea of glass in otherworld. Patch PMLA XXXIII 610 n. 30.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.4.1 | Sea of ice in otherworld. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F162.5 | Wells in otherworld. Patch Other World 386 s.v. "well". |
| F162.5.1 | Well (of wine) in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.5.2 | Head in otherworld well emits stream of water from mouth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F162.5.3 | Well containing "salmon of knowledge" in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.6 | Lakes in otherworld. Patch Other World 380 s.v. "lake"; German: Grimm No. 133. |
| F162.6.1 | Lake of fire in otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F162.6.2 | Lake with water of life in otherworld. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 492; Maori: Clark 182. |
| F162.7 | Rainbow of honey appears regularly in otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F162.8 | Magic fountain in otherworld. (Cf. F162.1.2.2.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.8.1 | Fountain of any temperature desired in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.8.2 | Fountains in otherworld—one or more streams flow into each, one or more out. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F162.8.3 | Musical fountain in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F162.9 | Mountains in otherworld. Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 19; Marquesas: Handy 119. |
| F163 | Buildings in otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F163.1 | Castle in otherworld. Patch Other World 375 s.v. "castle"; Siuts 58ff.; Dickson 94 n. 76; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F163.1.1 | Revolving castle in otherworld. Patch PMLA XXXIII 617 n. 54.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F163.1.2 | Golden castle in otherworld. Wimberly 146; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F163.1.3 | Castles thatched with golden shields in otherworld. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Gylf. II, XVII, MacCulloch Eddic 329 (Valhalla and Gimlé), Boberg. |
| F163.1.4 | Castles of gold and silver in otherworld. Icelandic: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 71 (Glitnir), Snorra Edda Gylf. XVII (Breidablik), Boberg. |
| F163.1.5 | Castles thatched with silver in otherworld. (Cf. F163.3.2.) Icelandic: Snorra Edda Gylf. XVII, MacCulloch Eddic 329 (Valaskjalf and Hlidskjalf), Boberg. |
| F163.2 | Church (chapel) in otherworld. Siuts 62.—English: Gawayne and the Green Knight. |
| F163.2.1 | Temple in otherworld. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F163.2.1.1 | Temple of jewels in otherworld. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F163.2.2 | Fiery temple in otherworld: Jewish: Neuman. |
| F163.3 | House in otherworld. (Cf. F147.) Siuts 63ff. |
| F163.3.1 | House of gold and crystal in otherworld. (Cf. F169.2.) Wimberly 146; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F163.3.2 | House of silver in otherworld. (Cf. F163.1.5.) Irish myth: *Cross; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| F163.3.2.1 | House in underworld lined with human eyes. Tonga: Gifford 168. |
| F163.3.2.2 | House in underworld made of bones of dead. Tonga: Gifford 171. |
| F163.4 | Gigantic mill in otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F163.5 | Fortress in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F163.5.1 | Fortress of metal (gold, silver, etc.) in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F163.6 | Stronghold in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F163.7 | Tower in otherworld. Patch Other World 384 s.v. "tower". |
| F163.7.1 | Tower hanging in the air in the otherworld. (Cf. H1036.) Icelandic: Flateyjarbуk I 33, *Boberg. |
| F164 | Habitable caves and mounds in otherworld. Siuts 65ff.; Patch Other World 375 s.v. "cave". |
| F165 | Characteristics of otherworld dwellings. |
| F165.1 | Doors in otherworld. Siuts 70ff.; Patch Other World 376 s.v. "doors"; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F165.1.0.1 | One hundred doors in palace of otherworld king. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F165.1.0.2 | Magic revolving wheel at door of otherworld dun (stronghold). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F165.1.1 | Doors of gold (crystal) in otherworld dwelling. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F165.2 | Otherworld dwellings open only at certain times. Siuts 73f. |
| F165.3 | Rooms in otherworld dwellings. Siuts 74ff. |
| F165.3.1 | Hall of glass in otherworld. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F165.3.1.1 | Chamber with crystal ceiling in otherworld. Patch PMLA XXXIII 610 n. 30. |
| F165.3.2 | Jewelled walls in otherworld dwelling. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F165.3.3 | Floors of silver in otherworld dwelling. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F165.3.4 | Wattling of silver in otherworld dwelling. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F165.3.5 | Windows in otherworld. (Cf. A661.0.6.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F165.3.5.1 | Crystal bower with "bright windows" as otherworld dwelling. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F165.4 | Table always set in otherworld dwellings. Siuts 79. |
| F165.5 | House in otherworld thatched with wings of birds. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F165.6 | Only joy felt in otherworld dwelling. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F165.6.1 | Otherworld (fairyland) as place of sorrowful captivity. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F165.7 | Fire in otherworld dwelling. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F165.7.1 | Four columns around fire in otherworld castle. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F165.8 | Copper-colored house in lower world. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| F166 | Furniture and objects in the otherworld. Siuts 83. |
| F166.0.1 | All furniture and objects in otherworld of gold. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F166.1 | Treasure and jewels in otherworld. Siuts 83ff.; Patch Other World 379 s.v. "jewels"; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F166.1.1 | "Silver Bowl" (Grail) in otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F166.2 | Gold-producing spring in otherworld. Siuts 85f. |
| F166.3 | Extraordinary clothes in otherworld. Siuts 86f. |
| F166.3.1 | Otherworld clothing never wears out. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F166.4 | Magic objects in otherworld. Siuts 89ff. |
| F166.4.1 | King's crown in well in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F166.4.2 | Magic cauldron (vessel) in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F166.5 | Altar in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F166.6 | Thrones in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F166.7 | Curtains in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F166.8 | Beds in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F166.9 | Canopies in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F166.10 | Tables in otherworld. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F166.11 | Abundant food in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F167 | Inhabitants of otherworld. *Siuts 107ff. |
| F167.1 | Animals in otherworld. Siuts 107ff.; Patch Other World 373 s.v. "animals"; Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 55, Beal XXI 321. |
| F167.1.1 | Beasts in otherworld. |
| F167.1.1.1 | Dogs in otherworld. (Cf. A673.) Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1032. |
| F167.1.2 | Birds in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F167.1.2.1 | Otherworld islands of birds. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F167.1.3 | Insects in otherworld. |
| F167.1.3.1 | Bees in otherworld. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F167.1.4 | Other animals in otherworld. |
| F167.1.4.1 | Giant clams in otherworld. Tonga: Gifford 169. |
| F167.2 | Dwarfs in otherworld. (Cf. F451.) Siuts 153ff.; Irish myth: Cross. |
| F167.3 | Giants in otherworld. (Cf. F531.) Siuts 161ff.; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F167.4 | People in otherworld walk on their heads. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F167.4.1 | People in otherworld stand on their heads and pound yams with their heads. Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 245 No. 1. |
| F167.5 | Headless people in otherworld. Siuts 218. |
| F167.6 | Handless people in otherworld. Siuts 218. |
| F167.7 | Footless people in otherworld. Siuts 218. |
| F167.8 | Otherworld people unacquainted with fire. Polynesian: Dixon 72, 78; Africa (Wachaga): Werner African 137. |
| F167.9 | Otherworld people ever young, ever beautiful. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F167.9.1 | Otherworld people rejuvenated on reaching old age. S. A. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503. |
| F167.10 | No carnal sin in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F167.11 | Monstrous creatures in otherworld. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F167.11.1 | Serpents (monsters) in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross |
| F167.11.2 | Hogs with bath of molten lead (iron) in otherworld. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F167.12 | King of otherworld. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F167.12.1 | Mortal marries king of otherworld. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F167.13 | Angels in otherworld. (Cf. V230.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F167.14 | Otherworld inhabitants segregated. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F167.14.1 | Portion of otherworld for women. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| F167.15 | Great tattooer in otherworld. Maori: Clark 136. |
| F167.16 | Beings born in otherworld suffer from excessive heat. Buddhist. myth: Malalasekera II 794. |
| F168 | Villages in otherworld. Eskimo (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 154. |
| F169 | Nature of the otherworld—miscellaneous. |
| F169.1 | Pillars of silver and glass in otherworld. Patch PMLA XXXIII 610 n. 30, Other World 382 s.v. "pillar", Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
If you wish to get access to data for projects and research, then please contact us, we do our best to help
How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
Please cite the relevant sources, catalogues, and classification systems, including the Folklore Database, Berezkin-Duvakin Catalogue, ATU, Thompson, alongside the page accessed and the last time accessed. Please respect copyright and licenses.
Editorial annotations and database enhancements © Jonathan Fielder-White licensed under CC BY 4.0. Berezkin-Duvakin derived narrative and metadata licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Full rights information can be found here.
All rights are reserved in the database structure, selection, arrangement, metadata, classifications, software, interface design, and original editorial content.
Important: The Folklore Database expressly reserves all rights in relation to text and data mining, automated extraction, scraping, machine learning, dataset creation, and the training, development, validation, or improvement of artificial intelligence technologies or systems. No part of this website or database may be scraped, copied, reproduced, harvested, downloaded in bulk, or otherwise used for AI training or commercial data extraction without prior written permission.
Designed and Developed by Jonathan Fielder-White.
© 2024–2026 Crecganford / Jonathan Fielder-White. All rights reserved.