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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| E411.1.1.1 | Suicides must walk the earth until time for their natural death. England: *Baughman. |
| J1169.7 | Suit about the ass's shadow. Man hires ass and driver for trip across plain. In the heat the traveler sits down in the ass's shadow. The driver pushes him away. Plea: he didn't hire the ass's shadow. *Wienert FFC LVI 37; Halm Aesop No. 339. |
| J1191.2 | Suit for chickens produced from boiled eggs. Countertask: harvesting crop produced from cooked seeds. *DeVries FFC LXXIII 244; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H1023.24 | Suitor asked to bathe in great cauldron of boiling water without making water lukewarm. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1575.1 | Suitor brings own lamp. Mother of girl tells suitor that she cannot have him burning her midnight oil. The next night he brings his own lamp and a can of oil, tells her he will stay all night if he wishes. U.S.: Baughman. |
| H384.0.1 | Suitor chooses kindly girl. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 75. |
| H332.2 | Suitor contest with brother-in-law. Icelandic: *Boberg; S. A. Indian (Chincha): Alexander Lat. Am. 231. |
| H331.7 | Suitor contest: aiming with missile. Jamaica: Beckwith: MAFLS XVII 269 No. 82. |
| H331.15 | Suitor contest: animal fight. |
| H331.4.2 | Suitor contest: bending bow of woman's absent husband. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 300 n. 3; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H315.2 | Suitor contest: bride offered to suitor giving the token of the greater love. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H331.2.1.1 | Suitor contest: bride offered to the one distinguishing himself most in battle. Girl loves both suitors equally. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.15.2 | Suitor contest: bullfight. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.10 | Suitor contest: carrying one hundred jugs of water from sea to castle in one day. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.13 | Suitor contest: cheating. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.15.1 | Suitor contest: cockfight. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1 | Suitor contest: difficult riding. |
| H331.17 | Suitor contest: eating one hundred carcasses at a sitting. (Cf. H1141.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1.6.1 | Suitor contest: jumping ditches and hedges of spears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1.2.1 | Suitor contest: jumping horse over palace. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1.6 | Suitor contest: jumping river on horseback. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.3 | Suitor contest: prize to one whose staff blooms. Told of Joseph in contest for Virgin Mary. *Dh II 265; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| H331.5.2 | Suitor contest: race with bride's father. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 181; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 157 n. 4. |
| H331.5 | Suitor contest: race. Dh III 145; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 23 n. 5, 160 n. 2; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian (Salishan): Hill-Tout British North America 229, (Shuswap): Teit JE II 684 No. 22, (Thompson River): Teit MAFLS VI 36 No. 7, (Skykomish): Haeberlin JAFL XXXVII 383 No. 9, (Achomawi): Curtin JAFL XXII 284 No. 2, (Arapaho): Dorsey and Kroeber FM V 105, (Ponca): Dorsey CNAE VI 333, (Menomini): Skinner and Satterlee PaAm XIII 396 No. 25, (California): Gayton and Newman 92; Africa (Vai): Ellis 189 No. 5; West Indies: Flowers 458. |
| H331.1.4 | Suitor contest: riding across pit. *BP III 113 n. 2. |
| H331.1.5 | Suitor contest: riding through fire. *Panzer Sigfrid 110; Krappe Waberlohe (Archiv fur das Studium der neueren Sprachen CLXXII 10ff.); Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H331.1.2 | Suitor contest: riding to fourth story of tower. *Type 530; *BP III 112 n. 1. |
| H331.1.1 | Suitor contest: riding up glass mountain. *Type 530; *BP III 111 n. 3; Köhler-Bolte I 67; Hdwb. d. Märchens II 627ff.; **Boberg Prinsessen pе Glasbjærget (Danske Studier [1928] 16ff.); *Fb "glarbjærg" I 459; Krappe The Glass Mountain (Modern Language Quarterly VIII 139—145); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.1.3 | Suitor contest: riding up mast (spear). *BP III 113 n. 3; N. A. Indian (Chilcotin): Farrand JE II 43. |
| H331.4 | Suitor contest: shooting. Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 295, Ikeda; N. A. Indian (Kutenai): Boas BBAE LIX 199 No. 64, (Sahaptin): Farrand MAFLS XI 157 No. 9, (Tsimshian): Boas BBAE XXVII 137, (Wichita): Dorsey CI XXI 130 No. 19, Dorsey Contributions to N. A. Ethnology VI 604, (Pawnee): Grinnell 87 No. 1, Dorsey MAFLS VIII 113 No. 31, 239 No. 60, (Crow): Simms FM II 292 No. 13, (Dakota): Zitkala-Sa Old Indian Legends 77; (Menomini): Skinner and Satterlee PaAM XIII 396 No. 25, (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 139, 318, 513, 567, (Wyandot): Barbeau GSCan XI 212, (Zuсi): Cushing 215; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 126. |
| H331.8 | Suitor contest: splitting antlers. N. A. Indian (Snohomish): Hill-Tout British Assn. Adv. Science (70th meeting) 525. |
| H331.12 | Suitor contest: splitting block of wood. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H331.2.1 | Suitor contest: success in battle. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.16 | Suitor contest: throwing ball up to princess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.16.1 | Suitor contest: throwing iron ball. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.2 | Suitor contest: tournament. *Type 508; Cosquin Contes Indiens 329ff.; *Liljeblad 39ff.; Dickson 181; English: Wells 147 (Ipomedon); Icelandic: Boberg; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman. |
| H331.9 | Suitor contest: trapping. N. A. Indian (Shoshoni): Lowie JAFL XXXVII 237 No. 18, (Pawnee): Dorsey MAFLS VIII 178 No. 45, (Gros Ventre): Kroeber PaAM I 80 No. 19. |
| H331.14 | Suitor contest: trial of strength. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.6.1 | Suitor contest: wrestling with bride. N. A. Indian (Wasco): Curtin PAES II 290 No. 2. |
| H331.6 | Suitor contest: wrestling. (Cf. H1562.9.) India: Thompson-Balys Eskimo (Aleut): Golder JAFL XXII 17. |
| H331 | Suitor contests: bride offered as prize. *Types 513, 514, 900; Philippson FFC L 12f.—Icelandic: Egils saga einhendsa ok ásmundar Berserkjabana (FAS III) 366; Finnish: Kalevala rune 3; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 9, *Rotunda; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 18f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 420; Japanese: Ikeda; Oceanic (New Zealand, Tahiti, Cook Group, Society Group): Dixon 61, 64; Eskimo (Aleut): Golder JAFL XXII 17; N. A. Indian: *Thompson-Tales 328n. 186; West Indies: Flowers 457. |
| J1279.3 | Suitor hesitates to marry girl as immature (or too delicate). Girl's father protests, saying that she has had three children. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H332 | Suitor in contest with bride or member of her family. See H331.4.1, H331.5.1, H331.5.2, H331.6.1. |
| H332.1 | Suitor in contest with bride. |
| K1218.2 | Suitor locked in pigsty. Type 1730*; Spanish: Espinosa II Nos. 31f. |
| H511.1.2 | Suitor must prefer princess to treasures. Irish myth: Cross. |
| T46 | Suitor outwits watchman to meet lady. |
| H318 | Suitor preferred who will pay enormous sum for bride. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H336.2 | Suitor required to catch wild animals. (Cf. H335.3.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| H335.1 | Suitor task: avenging bride's father's death before marriage. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H335.1.1 | Suitor task: avenging bride's former fiance before marriage. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H335.6.1 | Suitor task: controlling violent tide. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/730). |
| H335.2 | Suitor task: cutting open magic gourd. Indo-Chinese: Scott Indo-Chinese 290. |
| H335.3 | Suitor task: killing ferocious animal. |
| H335.3.2 | Suitor task: killing lion guarding girl. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.3.6 | Suitor task: killing tiger demons. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.6 | Suitor task: making weather calm. (Cf. D2141.0.8.1.) Tonga: Gifford 176. |
| H335.0.2.2 | Suitor task: prince to learn a trade. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 949*. |
| H335.5 | Suitor task: to bring back food as a marriage present. Chinese: Graham. |
| H335.4.1 | Suitor task: to bring enemy's head. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H335.4 | Suitor task: to defeat enemies. Icelandic: *Boberg; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H335.4.4 | Suitor task: to kill (defeat) unwelcome suitor. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H335.4.3 | Suitor task: to kill all earlier suitors. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H335.3.1 | Suitor task: to kill dragon to whom the princess is to be sacrificed. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H335.3.7 | Suitor task: to kill other monsters. Icelandic: *Boberg; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/317). |
| H335.3.4 | Suitor task: to kill treasure-guarding snake lying around the princess's chamber. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H1177.1 | Suitor task: to make fairies dance before princess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.4.2 | Suitor task: to overcome robbers. Chinese: Graham. |
| H335.3.3 | Suitor task: to slay thieving boar. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H335.0.2.1 | Suitor task: to study philosophy for five years. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H335.0.4 | Suitor tasks announced by inscription on statue. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H316 | Suitor test: apple thrown indicates princess's choice. (Often golden apple.) *Type 502; *BP III 111; Cosquin Contes Indiens 317ff.; Chauvin VI 3, *201, VIII 151, *Galtier RTP XIV 65; Fb "guldæble" I 516a; Hdwb. d. Märchens I 93a. |
| H326.1 | Suitor test: aptness in handicrafts. |
| H328.5 | Suitor test: bathing in boiling water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H328.2 | Suitor test: being swung by mustache without shedding tears. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.5.4 | Suitor test: boat race. Eskimo (Aleut): Golder JAFL XXII 17. |
| H343 | Suitor test: bringing dumb princess to speak. *Type 945; BP III 53ff.; *Gründwald Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXX 317; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 263; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 279 No. 95; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 277 n. 1. |
| H322.3 | Suitor test: bringing leg that fits into dragon claw left by the beloved of the princess. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H322.4 | Suitor test: bringing maiden's lost shoe. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H355.3 | Suitor test: bringing marvelous tree. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H359.1 | Suitor test: building causeway. (Cf. H1131.) Irish myth: *Cross (H345.3). |
| H324 | Suitor test: choosing princess from others identically clad. *Type 554; BP II 28; Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: Dixon 217; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H324.1 | Suitor test: choosing sweetheart's sedan chair from thirty others like it. Chinese: Graham. |
| H359.2 | Suitor test: clearing land. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H327 | Suitor test: cleverness and learning. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H326.1.1 | Suitor test: constructing automatic peacock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H312.6 | Suitor test: correct wearing of clothes. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.1.1 | Suitor test: duel with bride. Wesselski Archiv Orientální II 430. |
| H332.3 | Suitor test: duel with father-in-law. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H326.2 | Suitor test: eating a pomegranate without letting a single seed fall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H328.3 | Suitor test: enduring blow from spear. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H344 | Suitor test: entering princess's chamber. *Type 854. |
| H338 | Suitor test: faithfulness. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H355.1 | Suitor test: finding a cow with silver horns. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H355.2 | Suitor test: finding a hog with silver bristles. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| H355 | Suitor test: finding an extraordinary object. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H322.1 | Suitor test: finding object hidden by princess. *Type 507A; Irish myth: Cross. |
| H322 | Suitor test: finding princess. Type 590; Fb "skjule"; cf. Thompson CColl II 393; Filipino: Fansler MAFLS XII 183; Tuamotu: Stimson (z-G. 13/1241); West Indies: Flowers 457. |
| H342.1 | Suitor test: forcing princess to say, "That is a lie." *Type 852; BP II 506; *Fb "løgn" II 513a; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| H316.4 | Suitor test: garland thrown indicates girl's choice. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H321 | Suitor test: hiding from princess. She has magic sight. *Types 329, 554; *BP II 365; Köhler-Bolte I 408. |
| H331.1.3.1 | Suitor test: jumping over high hedge. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H338.1 | Suitor test: keeping princess's secret. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H1174 | Suitor test: killing monster. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H323 | Suitor test: learning girl's name. Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 45 No. 5. |
| H345.1 | Suitor test: lifting strong princess's giant weapon. *Type 519. |
| H341 | Suitor test: making princess laugh. Sadfaced princess has never laughed. *Types 559, 571, 1642; *BP I 59, 61, II 39ff., 454 n. 1; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXVI 89 n. 1; Italian: Basile Pentamerone Introduction, I No. 3; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H313 | Suitor test: obedience and humility before bride. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H355.4 | Suitor test: obtaining flowers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H355.5 | Suitor test: obtaining for bride a necklace like her mother's. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H342 | Suitor test: outwitting princess. |
| H345 | Suitor test: overcoming princess in strength. *Type 519. |
| H328 | Suitor test: power of endurance. |
| H328.1 | Suitor test: resisting intoxication after much drinking. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H345.2 | Suitor test: riding strong princess's horse. *Type 519. |
| H1091.3 | Suitor test: scattering mountain of mustard seed in one watch gathering it together in another, pressing its oil out in another. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H326.1.2 | Suitor test: skill in archery. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H326.4 | Suitor test: skill in fishing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H326.3 | Suitor test: skill in hunt. Eskimo (Aleut): Golder JAFL XXII 17. |
| H326 | Suitor test: skill. |
| H328.4 | Suitor test: standing naked in river through a winter night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H312.7 | Suitor test: to be able to go through a wall. Chinese: Graham. |
| H347 | Suitor test: to consort with princess without sleeping. Suitors are given sleeping potion. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.1.2.1 | Suitor test: to defeat bride at dice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.1.2 | Suitor test: to defeat bride in game. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| H332.1.3 | Suitor test: to defeat bride in harping. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| H322.2 | Suitor test: to get to imprisoned princess in a year's time. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H355.6 | Suitor test: to get wedding dress so fine that it will go through ring. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H351.1 | Suitor test: to live on as much food as can be piled on a leaf. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H351 | Suitor test: to live on small amount of food. |
| H352 | Suitor test: to make garden bloom in winter. (Cf. M261.1.) Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H315.1 | Suitor test: to make the princess fall in love with him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H353 | Suitor test: to plunge into a stream. Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H315 | Suitor test: to whom the princess turns. Rival suitors sleep with princess. The one she turns to is to have her. They vie in enticements. *Type 621, 850; Köhler-Bolte I 428f. |
| H332.1.4 | Suitor test: tournament with bride. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H333.2 | Suitor test: tribute of his severed hands. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| H331.5.3 | Suitor test: winning horse-race three times. Hdwb. d. Märchens I 229a n. 3. |
| H1406 | Suitor tested by apparent threats to his person. Heptameron No. 16. |
| H310 | Suitor tests. A suitor is put to severe tests by his prospective bride or father-in-law. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Wells 16 (Guy of Warwick); Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 187; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 324 n. 170, 328 n. 186; S. A. Indian (Tropical Forests): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (3) 55, (Carib): Alexander Lat. Am. 264; Africa: Werner African 153f., (Benga): Nassau 227 No. 34. |
| H314.1 | Suitor's sincerity tested by reporting girl's death. All but one make excuses for not helping with funeral. Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 85 No. 14. |
| H314.2 | Suitor's sincerity tested by seven years' banishment. Heptameron No. 24. |
| H314 | Suitor's sincerity tested. Chinese: Werner 272. |
| K1218.4 | Suitors as corpse, angel, and devil. First induced to lie in coffin, second to sit up with the "corpse", and the third to carry a firebrand. "Corpse" thinks others are angel and devil. All come to blows. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 220; Boccaccio Decameron IX No. 1 (Lee 271); Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| H336 | Suitors assigned quests. *Types 513, 514; Irish myth: *Cross; English: Wells 115 (Sir Eglamore); German: Grimm Nos. 6, 62, 93, 96, 97, 106, 137, 163, 197; Icelandic: *Boberg; Africa (Fjort): Dennett 74. |
| H312.3 | Suitors chosen with feet as only part seen. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H331.4.1 | Suitors contest with bride's father in shooting. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 238 n. 1. |
| T75.0.1 | Suitors ill-treated. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K1218.3 | Suitors one by one enticed into graveyard and left together. They later get revenge. Type 940; Sébillot RTP IX 344, Literature orale de la Haute-Bretagne 142. |
| K1227.2 | Suitors put off till web is woven. Unwoven each night. (Penelope.) *W. Crooke FL IX 97; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus II 299 n. 2. |
| H593 | Suitors receive enigmatic answers. Girls answer in single words, which, when arranged in certain order, show that they accept. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J1582.2 | Sulphur in the censer. Parishioners put base money into the collection. The priest burns sulphur instead of incense He tells them that their money will buy nothing better. *Wesselski Arlotto II 218 No. 82. |
| H1558.7.1 | Sultan takes disguise of beggar to test friends. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2488.2 | Sultan tries to prove to Adversity he cannot be seized at specified time and hides in a sewer. He thus experiences adversity in his very effort to avoid it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| S222.4 | Sultan's daughter demanded by giant ogre as price for letting his subjects alone. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| T91.6.4.1 | Sultan's daughter in love with captured knight. Dickson 133 n. 109; English: Wells 85 (The Sowdone of Babylone). |
| D1664 | Summer and winter garden. Garden which blooms in winter. (Cf. D961.) *BP II 232; Köhler-Bolte I 215f.—N. A. Indian (Tsimshian): Boas RBAE XXXI 182. |
| F161.1.1 | Summer in otherworld when it is winter in world of mortals. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D2145.2.1 | Summer magically lengthened. (Cf. F162.1.1, F971.5.) Irish: Plummer lxxx, Cross. |
| D2145.2 | Summer produced by magic. |
| M301.14 | Summoned dead prophesies. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 98, *Boberg. |
| E389.2 | Summoned ghost audible and visible only to person who has summoned him. Jewish: Neuman. Cf. Shakespeare Hamlet ("ghost scene"). |
| D2074.2.2 | Summoning by burning hair. *Chauvin V 5 n. 3, 293. |
| D2074.2.5 | Summoning by prayer. (Cf. V52.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2074.2.3 | Summoning by wish. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 49. |
| F301.1 | Summoning fairy lover. |
| E380.1 | Summoning souls punished: in hour of man's death they overwhelm him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A738.1.2 | Sun a fat woman walking across sky. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A736.3.3 | Sun and his brother rise and set alternately. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A19.1 | Sun and moon (man and wife) as creators. So. Am. Indian: (Cashibo) Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 594. |
| A738.1.1 | Sun and moon are balls of feathers. S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 347f., (Paressi): Métraux ibid. 360. |
| A736.3 | Sun and moon as brothers. N. Am. Indian (Klikitat): Jacobs Northwest Sahaptin Texts 16; S. Am. Indian (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, (Chiriguano): Métraux ibid. 484; (Guaporé River): Lévi-Strauss ibid. 379. |
| A718.2 | Sun and moon as divine bodies of gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 85. |
| A759.2 | Sun and moon as divine hero's wedding presents. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A714.7 | Sun and moon as eyes of Rama which he tore out after his brother's death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.6 | Sun and moon as friends. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A151.6.2 | Sun and moon as habitations of gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 85. |
| A736.1.3 | Sun and moon as lovers. (Cf. A736.1.1.).—India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 306, (Caviсa, Tumupasa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448; African (Ekoi): Talbot 359. |
| A736.1 | Sun and moon as man and woman. India: Thompson-Balys; Macobi: Alexander Lat. Am 319; Africa: Meinhof 200. |
| A736.4 | Sun and moon as sisters, daughters of sky-god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A714.6 | Sun and moon as spangle which falls from creator's forehead into his own urine. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.3.1 | Sun and moon as twin brothers. S. Am. Indian (Mataco, Chamacoco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Amuesa): *Métraux RMLP XXXIII 131. |
| A711.1 | Sun and moon as uncle and nephew who ascended to the sky. Tunja (Colombia): Alexander Lat. Am. 200. |
| A1271.2 | Sun and moon beget stones and birds: these transformed to first parents. Baining of New Britain: Dixon 110. |
| A715.2 | Sun and moon born from a goddess impregnated by the wind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A715.1 | Sun and moon born from a woman. *Fb "sol" III 457b. |
| A715.3 | Sun and moon born from an ogre. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A715.6 | Sun and moon born of lizard. S. Am. Indian (Amuesha): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 149. |
| A736.3.2 | Sun and moon brothers: sun clever, moon stupid. S. Am. Indian (Mataco, Chamacoco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Timbira, Sherente, Caingang, Mashachali): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 397, 515. |
| R9.1.2 | Sun and Moon captured by creditor, thus causing eclipse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A728.4 | Sun and moon carried through sky by animals. Speed depends upon hour and season.—S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 348. |
| A1010.1 | Sun and moon do not shine during deluge. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A713.1 | Sun and moon from belly of a fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A715.4 | Sun and moon from breasts of mother earth. (Cf. A401.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A713 | Sun and moon from cave. Haiti: Alexander Lat. Am. 28. |
| R9.1.3 | Sun and Moon imprison each other. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A721.0.1 | Sun and moon kept in pots when they do not shine. S. Am. Indian (Bakairi, Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 313, (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 683. Cf. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 282 n. 45 (light kept in box or basket). |
| A726.1 | Sun and moon make daily tour under direct orders of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A736.1.4 | Sun and moon married. *Fb. "sol" III 457b.—Lettish: Gray 321; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 133, Eberhard FFC CXX 113.—African: Werner African 232, (Fang): Trilles 171f.; Hatt Asiatic Influences 74f.—Tlingit: Alexander N. Am. 257; S. Am. Indian (Fuegian): Alexander Lat. Am. 342, (Jivaro): Stewart-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 627, Métraux RMLP XXXIII 129, (Aymara): Tschopik BBAE CXLIII (2) 571, (Chibcha): Kroeber ibid. 908. |
| A714.4 | Sun and moon metal mirrors in sky. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 419; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A714.1 | Sun and moon placed for eyes in the sky. Maori, Society Is., Samoa, Cook Group: Dixon 37. |
| A714.2 | Sun and moon placed in top of tree. Hero makes the sun and moon and fastens them to the top of the "World Tree" (cf. A652), but they give no light at first. —Finnish: Kalevala rune 49, cf. FFC LXXII 108. |
| A700.6 | Sun and moon purchased. African (Togo): Einstein 9f. |
| A735.2 | Sun and moon pursued by dark planet in black chariot. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.1.4.1 | Sun and moon quarrel when sun eats up all their children but two. India: Thompson-Balys. Cf. Africa: Meinhof 200. |
| E90.1 | Sun and moon steal wonderful tree which revives dead man or animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A722.10 | Sun and moon to remain half their time in underworld. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1311.6.3 | Sun answers questions. (Cf. D1291.1.)—Type 709; *Böklen Sneewittchenstudien (Leipzig, 1915) 72; Cox Cinderella 483. |
| F961.1.8 | Sun appears color of blood. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A711.2 | Sun as a cannibal. India: Thompson-Balys; Crow: Lowie PaAM XV 157. |
| A739.8 | Sun as caretaker of the poor. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 165. |
| A121.2 | Sun as deity. (cf. A220). Jewish: Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 217. |
| A512.4 | Sun as father of culture hero. S. Am. Indian (Warrau, Carib): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 123, 145. |
| A712 | Sun as fire rekindled every morning. Australian: Dixon 274f. |
| A714.5 | Sun as grindstone full of fire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N818.1 | Sun as helper. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736 | Sun as human being. |
| A731 | Sun as king of sky and earth. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman; Africa: Bouveignes 14. |
| D1291.1 | Sun as magic object. Cox Cinderella 483. |
| D1711.3 | Sun as magician. Chinese: Werner 361. |
| A711 | Sun as man who left earth. Man, usually of supernatural birth, ascends to the sky and becomes the sun.—India: Thompson-Balys; Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 45; Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18; Ekoi: Talbot 357, 359; British New Guinea: Dixon 113; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-g 3/191); S. Am. Indian (Eastern Brazil): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 434, (Guarayú): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147, (Kaigua): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 138ff., (Manasi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 393, (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 122, 158—165, (Guaporé River): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 379. |
| A715.5 | Sun as offspring of moon. Babylonia: Spence 145. |
| A736.2 | Sun as woman. S. Am. Indian (Mocoví): Métraux MAFLS XXXX 20. |
| A722.4 | Sun at night closes doors. In evening goes home and shuts doors and windows.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 357. |
| A722.7.1 | Sun at night enters fissure between sky and earth. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A722.5 | Sun at night lowers arm. The sun, a man, lies with arm uplifted. The shining comes from his armpits. When his arm is lowered the shining ceases.—Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 45. |
| A739.1 | Sun at the edge of the sky. Chinese: Graham. |
| A722.5.1 | Sun bathes in stream of fire at night. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A715 | Sun born of first couple. Gilbert Is.: Dixon 254; Samoa: Beckwith Myth 254; S. Am. Indian (Tupinamba, Tembé, Apapocuva): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 123, (Jivaro): Stewart-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 627, (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, (Paressi): Métraux ibid. 359, (Viracocha): Stewart-Métraux ibid. 550. |
| R9.1.1 | Sun captured during visit to earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R9.1 | Sun captured. |
| A728 | Sun caught in snare. Luomala Oceanic, American Indian, and African Myths of Snaring the Sun (BMB No. 168 [Honolulu, 1940]); *Dh III 120ff.—India: Thompson-Balys; African: Frobenius Atlantis V 38, 70f., XII 160, 185f. |
| A719.3 | Sun created on fourth day of creation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| L351.2 | Sun cursed by man for its burning rays, wind for its hot breath, but moon is blessed for its soft, cool, and beautiful light. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.9 | Sun cursed by moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| V211.2.3.3 | Sun darkened at Crucifixion. (Cf. F965.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| F965.2 | Sun darkened at death of holy person. Usener Kleine Schriften IV 307; Jewish: Neuman; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| A1052.1 | Sun devoured by monster at end of world. *Olrik Ragnarök 482 s.v. "Sonne". |
| F965.2.1 | Sun does not rise at death of hero. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A725.1 | Sun does not set for a year through power of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F961.1.5.3 | Sun does not set. Jewish: Neuman. |
| F961.1.6 | Sun does not shine on island of druidry. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A733.5 | Sun dries out earth with its heat. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A764.1.2 | Sun eats all his own children except morning star, while moon keeps all her children in hiding. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A719.1 | Sun emerges from lake. S. Am. Indian (Amyra): Tschopik BBAE CXLIII (2) 571. |
| A738.2.2 | Sun endowed with wisdom and passion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A721.5 | Sun falls but is lifted back to sky and tied to it. S. Am. Indian: (Mocovi): Métraux MAFLS XXXX 34. |
| A226 | Sun father-in-law. American Indian: *Thompson Tales 312 n. 123. |
| A714.3 | Sun from fire flung into sky. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 421. |
| A718.3 | Sun from fruit kernels thrown into water of flood. S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 683. |
| A718.1 | Sun from head of youth offered in sacrifice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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.