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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| N553.4 | Tabu: looking around while raising treasure. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 78, 80 Nos. 658, 668. |
| C332 | Tabu: looking around. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 252. |
| C316.2 | Tabu: looking at caribou. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 241. |
| C316 | Tabu: looking at certain animal. |
| C315.1 | Tabu: looking at certain boat. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bateau".—Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 375, Rasmussen I 239. |
| C315 | Tabu: looking at certain object. |
| C319 | Tabu: looking at certain person or thing—miscellaneous. |
| C310 | Tabu: looking at certain person or thing. |
| C315.4 | Tabu: looking at certain well. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C311.1.8 | Tabu: looking at deity. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C311.1.2 | Tabu: looking at fairies. Fb "sygdom" III 699a.—Irish myth: Cross; England, Wales: Baughman. |
| C311.1.1 | Tabu: looking at ghosts. Fb "sygdom" III 699a.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C315.2 | Tabu: looking at heavenly body. |
| C311.2 | Tabu: looking at holy objects. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C311.1.3 | Tabu: looking at mountain-folk. Fb "sygdom" III 699a. |
| C312.1.2 | Tabu: looking at nude woman riding through town. (Godiva.) —Hartland "Peeping Tom and Lady Godiva" FL I 207; Liebrecht Zur Volkskunde 105; English: Baughman. |
| C312.2.2 | Tabu: looking at old woman helper as she eats. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 90 No. 16. |
| C312.2.1 | Tabu: looking at princess on public appearance. *Chauvin V 61 No. 19; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C315.2.3 | Tabu: looking at rainbow. Jewish: Neuman; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 39. |
| C311.1.7 | Tabu: looking at slain game before it dies. Eskimo (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 620. |
| C315.2.2.1 | Tabu: looking at sun before prince becomes fourteen years old. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C315.2.2 | Tabu: looking at sun. Eskimo (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 180, (Greenland): Rink 441, Rasmussen III 51, Holm 72. |
| C32.1 | Tabu: looking at supernatural husband. *Type 425a; *BP II 234, 245ff., 266ff.; *Tegethoff Studien zum Märchentypus von Amor und Psyche 32; *Lang Cupid and Psyche (1886); *Fb "lys" II 483a.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C31.1.3 | Tabu: looking at supernatural wife naked. African: Werner 191. |
| C31.1.2 | Tabu: looking at supernatural wife on certain occasion. (Mélusine). The husband must not see the wife when she is transformed to an animal.—*Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXV (1933) 121; *Köhler-Bolte III 265nn. 1, 2; **Köhler Der Ursprung der Melusinensage (1895); Desaivre Le Mythe de la Mére Lusine (Extrait des Memoires de la Société de Statistique, Sciences, Lettres, et Arts de Deux-Sèvres [Saint-Maixent 1883]); Keightley Fairy Mythology 480; Baring-Gould Curious Myths 470; Hartland Science 201; Holmström Studier över Svanjungfrumotivet 100; M. Nowack Die Melusinensage (Diss. 1886); *Fränkel Zs. f. Vksk. IV 387; Jegerlehner Oberwallis 307 No. 24. |
| C31.1.1 | Tabu: looking at supernatural wife too soon. *BP III 114 (Gr. No. 137).—Middle English romance: Wells 145 (Parthenope of Blois). |
| C31.1 | Tabu: looking at supernatural wife. India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| C312.2.3 | Tabu: looking at supernatural woman who is dismembered. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| C315.3 | Tabu: looking at water. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C311.1.4 | Tabu: looking at werewolf. Fb "stum".—Irish myth: Cross. |
| C312.2 | Tabu: looking at woman (miscellaneous). |
| C312.2.4 | Tabu: looking at women performing Bacchic rites. Greek: Grote I 239. |
| C331.3 | Tabu: looking back during flight. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 84. |
| C331.1 | Tabu: looking back over left shoulder. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C331 | Tabu: looking back. *Fb "se" III 173b; *Chauvin VII 98 No. 375; Hartland Science 236, 243; Samter Geburt, Hochzeit, Tod 147ff.—*Pease Cicero De Divinatione 182 (Bk I 49); Eitrem Hermes und die Toten (1909) 40f.; McCartney Papers of Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters XVI (1931) 147f.—Greek: Fox 147, Usener Kleine Schriften IV 455; Jewish: Neuman; Hindu: Caland Die altindischen Todten- und Bestattungsgebraüche 23, 73ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Fr. Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 11; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 503f.; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 87 No. 7; Eskimo: Holm 19, Rink 164, 169, 299, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 225; Tonga: Gifford 22; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 499; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z—G 3/1241); S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 502; Africa (Fang): Trilles 156, 269, (Luba): DeClerq Zs. f. KS IV 197. |
| C335 | Tabu: looking down upon earth from sky world. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 42. |
| C330 | Tabu: looking in certain direction. |
| C322 | Tabu: looking into bag. India: Thompson-Balys; Takelau (Samoa): Beckwith Myth 25. |
| C327 | Tabu: looking into basket. Congo: Weeks 206f. No. 3; Marquesas: Handy 120, 122. |
| C321 | Tabu: looking into box (Pandora). Köhler notes to Gonzenbach Sicilianische Märchen No. 15.—Greek: Hesiod Works and Days lines 81—-104. —England: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *320; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 276 n. 19. |
| C320 | Tabu: looking into certain receptacle. |
| C323 | Tabu: looking into flask. Man given magic flask on condition that he never look into it.—Hartland Science 142; Fb "tønde" III 934b. |
| C324 | Tabu: looking into jug. Woman does so and finds mouse in it.——Type 1416; *BP III 543 n. 1; *Fb "Adam" IV 3b; *Crane Vitry 139 No. 13; Krappe Bull. Hispanique XXXIX 44; Jewish: Neuman. |
| C324.1 | Tabu: looking into magic calabash. African: (Yoruba): Frobenius Atlantis X 232f. No. 16. |
| C325 | Tabu: looking into the pots in hell. Type 475; Köhler-Bolte I 69. |
| C315.5 | Tabu: looking on certain island. Maori: Beckwith Myth 349. |
| C334 | Tabu: looking over cemetery walls, lest one see ghosts. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C311.1.1.1 | Tabu: looking through the upturned sleeve of a fur coat. One sees ghosts. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| C326 | Tabu: looking under certain bell too soon. Chinese: Werner 421. |
| C337 | Tabu: looking up chimney. Roberts Type 480, p. 175. |
| C333 | Tabu: looking up. Finnish: Kalevala rune 7. |
| C837 | Tabu: loosing bridle in selling man transformed to horse. Disenchantment follows.—Type 325; BP II 60ff, *67 (Gr. No. 68).—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C55 | Tabu: losing consecrated wafer. Types 613, 671; BP I 322 n. 1. |
| C111 | Tabu: loss of chastity. Hero loses power with loss of chastity.——Wesselski Mönchslatein 185 No. 144; Jewish: Neuman; Gaster Thespis 327f.; Rуheim Animism, Magic, and the Divine King 1ff.; Jastrow Religion of Babylonia and Assyria 475ff.—Cf. Stories of knights of the Round Table, e.g. Galahad. —*Crane Vitry 237 No. 247; Herbert Catalogue of Romances III 20; Irish myth: Cross.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 335 n. 209a. |
| C31.7 | Tabu: lousing supernatural wife. Indonesian: De Vries Volksverhalen I No. 35 n. |
| C541.4 | Tabu: lying on ancestors' bones. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3541. |
| C516 | Tabu: lying under tree. Girl who does so carried off by fairies. (Cf. C520.)—English-Scottish: Child V 499 s.v. "trees"—Irish myth: Cross. |
| C715.2 | Tabu: making noise on way to other world. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 154. |
| C642 | Tabu: making peace with certain tribe. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C751.5 | Tabu: making treaty at certain time. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C773.1 | Tabu: making unreasonable requests. Given power of fulfilling all wishes, person oversteps moderation and is punished. *Type 555; *BP I 138; Grimm No. 19; *DeCock Volkssage 22ff.; *Wesselski Märchen 235; Irish myth: Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *555B; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C893 | Tabu: making use of blood. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| C641.1 | Tabu: making war against certain tribe on Tuesday. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C641 | Tabu: making war against certain tribe. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C854.2 | Tabu: making withershins circuit. (Cf. D1791.2.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| C132 | Tabu: male presence in girl's puberty-hut. Zulu: Callaway 74, 85. |
| C182.2 | Tabu: man entering woman's quarters in her absence. Tonga: Gifford 53. |
| C312.1.1 | Tabu: man looking at nude goddess. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 363 n. 1 (Tiresias), Fox 46, 185 (Acteon), Grote I 238; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C312.1 | Tabu: man looking at nude woman. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Gaster Thespis 328, Oldest Stories 142. |
| C312 | Tabu: man looking at woman. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C151 | Tabu: man not to be present at childbirth. (Cf. C31.1.4.)—English: Child I 179, 181—3, 245f., 502a; II 98, 106f., 414, 418, 422, 499; IV 250a, 464; V236; Dickson Valentine and Orson 169 n. 20; *Boje 125. |
| C162 | Tabu: marriage with certain person. |
| C165 | Tabu: marriage with person whose blood one has drunk. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C162.3 | Tabu: marrying outside of group (or caste). Jewish: *Neuman. |
| C162.1 | Tabu: marrying queen of certain race. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C162.2 | Tabu: marrying unmanly person. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C94.5 | Tabu: masking as ghost in graveyard. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 39 No. 15**; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3441, Legends Nos. 854—858. |
| C182.1 | Tabu: men fishing at certain place. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C141.1 | Tabu: menstrous woman not to go near any cultivated field or crops will be ruined. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C442 | Tabu: mentioning land of person's birth. Tiersot RTP VI 730; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C35.1 | Tabu: mentioning origin of animal wife. (Cf. C31.2, C33.1.)—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 339—342 nn. 222, 223, 233, cf. 234.—Africa (Congo): Weeks 215 No. 11; (Basuto): Jacottet 108 No. 16, (Fjort): Dennett 43 No. 6, (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 44, (Duala): Lederbogen 143.—Indonesian: Dixon 219. |
| C33.1 | Tabu: mentioning origin of supernatural child. (cf. C31.2, C35.1.) —India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 133—136; (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 77ff. No. 12, (Basuto): Jacottet 110; (Ibo of Nigeria): Thomas 76, 80. |
| C31.2 | Tabu: mentioning origin of supernatural wife. (Cf. C33.1, C35.1.) —Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 296 No. 21; Fjort: Dennett 44 No. 6; Indonesian: De Vries Volksverhalen I No. 35 n. |
| C441 | Tabu: mentioning original form of transformed person. See references in C31.2, C33.1, and C35.1.—MacCulloch Childhood 261; Tupper and Ogle Walter Map 221; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 342 n. 234; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C429.1 | Tabu: mentioning secret water spring. Africa (Lamami): Bouveignes 27. |
| C713.1 | Tabu: merman's wife not to stay till church benediction. English: Child I 366. |
| C51.1.4 | Tabu: misuse of money in alms box. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 319 No. 23. |
| C94.3 | Tabu: mocking animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F348.8 | Tabu: mortal for whom fairy works must not watch him at work. England, Scotland, Wales: *Baughman. |
| C191 | Tabu: mortal lusting after goddess. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 28 n. 2; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C66 | Tabu: murmuring against deity. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C67 | Tabu: neglect of sacred fires. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 111. |
| C57.1 | Tabu: neglect of sacrifice to deity. Greek: Grote I 104, 108. |
| C57 | Tabu: neglect of service to deity. |
| C163 | Tabu: neglecting sexual relations in marriage. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C68 | Tabu: neglecting to fulfill vow made to god. Greek: Grote I 202. |
| C747 | Tabu: not to allow any other creature on raft. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C536 | Tabu: not to clean houses with cow-dung. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C141.2 | Tabu: not to enter cowshed during menses. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C141.3 | Tabu: not to enter water during menses. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 29. |
| C169.1 | Tabu: not to lay down basket carrying bride on wedding journey. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C615.4 | Tabu: not to rest near a lake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C420.2 | Tabu: not to speak about a certain happening. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C145 | Tabu: not to touch certain things during menses. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C32.3 | Tabu: not to touch too soon supernatural husband on visit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C311.1.5 | Tabu: observing supernatural helper. Chinese: Eberhard 217 No. 167. |
| C36 | Tabu: offending animal husband. (Cf. C32).—Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 38. |
| C35 | Tabu: offending animal wife. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 339 n. 223; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 145, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 616. |
| C45 | Tabu: offending devil. A smith or priest continually insults the devil's statue or picture (cf. C13). The devil brings the offender into dangerous situation (suspicion of theft or murder), and saves him miraculously when he promises never again to abuse the devil's likeness. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3325f.; Legends Nos. 631—637, 789; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| C46 | Tabu: offending fairy. |
| C50.1 | Tabu: offending goddess of fortune. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C44 | Tabu: offending guardian spirits. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 321; Herrmann Saxo Gr. II 586. |
| C75 | Tabu: offending heavenly bodies. |
| C42 | Tabu: offending mountain-spirit. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 42 No. 53**. |
| C37 | Tabu: offending other animal relatives. Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 47, 49, (Greenland): Rink 144, (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 156. |
| C70 | Tabu: offending other sacred beings. |
| C94.3.1.1 | Tabu: offending sacred cow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C43.1 | Tabu: offending spirit of banyan tree. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C16 | Tabu: offending spirits of the dead. Eskimo (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 153. |
| C40 | Tabu: offending spirits of water, mountain, etc. |
| C32 | Tabu: offending supernatural husband. (Cf. C36.)—*Type 425; BP II 245ff. (Gr. No. 88).—India: *Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 91. |
| C30 | Tabu: offending supernatural relative. |
| C31 | Tabu: offending supernatural wife. Upon slight offence the wife leaves for her old home.—*Hoffman-Krayer Zs. f. Vksk. XXV 120 n. 4; Irish myth: Cross; English: Child I 21, 485a, II 496b, 509a, IV 440b; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 340 n. 223a; Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas VAM XV 180; Maori: Dixon 58, 72. |
| C50 | Tabu: offending the gods. Irish myth: Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C75.1 | Tabu: offending the moon. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 442, Rasmussen II 25, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 180. |
| C41 | Tabu: offending water-spirit. Frazer Golden Bough III 94.—North Carolina: Brown Collection I 641; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 56. |
| C43 | Tabu: offending wood-spirit. (cf. C51.2.2, C64).—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 295 No. 12; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C312.3 | Tabu: on looking at daughter for twelve years. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C322.2 | Tabu: opening bag too soon. Welsh: Hartland Science 38. |
| C625 | Tabu: opening bottle. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 214, No. 163. |
| C328 | Tabu: opening corpse-wrapping. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C321.2 | Tabu: opening gift box prematurely. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C31.1.5 | Tabu: opening gourd in which star-wife is kept. When curious girls do so, she flies up to sky. S. Am. Indian (Camacoco): Métraux MAFLS XL 48. |
| C321.1 | Tabu: opening too much of magic box at a time. A priest gives a prince a sealed packet which he is to open in time of distress. He must open only one portion at a time.—Chinese: Werner 230. |
| C480 | Tabu: other vocal expressions. |
| C770 | Tabu: overweening pride. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| C286 | Tabu: partaking of certain feast. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C620 | Tabu: partaking of the one forbidden object. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C51.1.7 | Tabu: peeping at sacred font. (Cf. C300.)—Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 19 No. 187. |
| C402.2 | Tabu: people speaking before king speaks. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C482.1 | Tabu: people weeping in land of gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 69. |
| C525 | Tabu: picking up card fallen to ground. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "cartes". |
| C543 | Tabu: picking up comb from ground. It belongs to fairy (witch) who will avenge insult. Scottish: Campbell-McKay No. 22 note.—Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| C771.2 | Tabu: piling up mountains to reach heaven. Greek: Fox 144; *Frazer Ovid II 136. |
| C167 | Tabu: playing at marriage ceremony. |
| C844 | Tabu: playing flute. *Fb "flöjte" I 326. |
| C631.6 | Tabu: playing music on sabbath. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C522 | Tabu: plowing in certain place. Fb "plove" II 849b, "höj" I 741b.—Africa (Kaffir): Theal 30 No. 1, 41 No. 2, (Basuto): Jacottet 100 No. 15, (Zulu): Callaway 99, (Yoruba): Ellis 253 No. 4. |
| C886 | Tabu: plowing with ass and ox together. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C512 | Tabu: plucking ear of grain. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 181 No. 36. |
| F378.5 | Tabu: plucking flowers from bed tended by fairies. England: *Baughman. |
| C568.1 | Tabu: poets to be ignorant of national literature. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C843.1 | Tabu: pointing at rainbow. *Fb "regnbue" III 31b. |
| C51.9 | Tabu: pointing boat toward island of the gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 67. |
| C843 | Tabu: pointing. Fb "pege" II 800. |
| C41.4 | Tabu: poisoning fish causes storm. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C313.0.1 | Tabu: princess never to see male person. All men must hide when she goes forth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C567.2 | Tabu: princess stepping in water. Madagascar (Tsimihety): Renel I 144ff. No. 26. |
| C833.7 | Tabu: proceeding after mishap to chariot. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C10 | Tabu: profanely calling up spirit (devil, etc.).—*Halliday in Penzer VIII xiv; BP II 63 n. 1.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 338 n. 217a; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C93.2 | Tabu: profaning hallowed clothes and vessels. Alphabet No. 696. |
| C58 | Tabu: profaning sacred day. Irish myth: Cross; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 18 Nos. 163, 166; Hebrew: Exodus 20: 8—11, Neuman; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 390.—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 308 Nos. 37, 38; 324 No. 147; 328 No. 11; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C51.1 | Tabu: profaning shrine. Irish myth: Cross, Beal XXI 336; Greek: Grote I 279; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C517 | Tabu: pulling nuts. English-Scottish: Child I 360 n. |
| C812 | Tabu: pursuing certain animal. Zulu: Callaway 117. |
| C743 | Tabu: putting house in order for one man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C835.2.3 | Tabu: putting spear-head between teeth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C32.2 | Tabu: questioning supernatural husband. *Boekenoogen Ridder metter Swane 166ff; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C31.4.1 | Tabu: questioning supernatural wife. Hindu: Penzer VII 21 n. 3, II 252f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: De Vries Volksverhalen I No. 35 n. |
| C865.1 | Tabu: racing pigeons. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C835.2.5 | Tabu: reddening weapons without satiety. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C282 | Tabu: refusing a feast. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C871 | Tabu: refusing a request. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C835.1 | Tabu: refusing combat to anyone. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C53 | Tabu: refusing credit to god. Type 830.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 177. |
| C94.8 | Tabu: refusing homage to saint's bell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C288 | Tabu: refusing to eat food demanded and supplied. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C192 | Tabu: refusing to elope with woman who desires it. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C152.2 | Tabu: refusing unreasonable demand of pregnant woman. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C741 | Tabu: relieving souls in hell. Boy who tends kettles in hell not allowed to raise covers to relieve poor souls.—Köhler-Bolte I 138, *320. |
| C761.1 | Tabu: remaining on journey too long. English: Wells 66 (Ywain and Gawain).—Chinese: Graham. |
| C716 | Tabu: removing hats while in otherworld. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C846 | Tabu: removing landmarks. Alphabet Nos 46, 47.—Norwegian: *Solheim Register 17; Danish: Kristensen Da. Sagn V nos. 1409ff. |
| C31.11 | Tabu: reproaching supernatural wife about her sisters. England: Baughman.* |
| C41.1 | Tabu: rescuing drowning man. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "noyé." |
| C731 | Tabu: resting on journey. India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 51. |
| C730 | Tabu: resting. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C96.1 | Tabu: resurrecting cat for trifling purpose. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C422.1 | Tabu: revealing dragon-fighter's identity. Dragon-fighter forbids princess whom he has rescued to tell who he is.—*Type 300. |
| C423.3 | Tabu: revealing experiences in other world. Hartland Science 201.—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 240. |
| C427 | Tabu: revealing help of grateful animal. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C422 | Tabu: revealing identity of certain person. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C425 | Tabu: revealing knowledge of animal languages. *Type 670; **Aarne FFC XV; BP I 132; India: *Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| C51.3 | Tabu: revealing name of god. Jewish: Neuman; Egyptian: Müller 109; Chinese: Werner 294. |
| C423.5 | Tabu: revealing sacred mysteries. Jewish: *Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 144; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C421 | Tabu: revealing secret of supernatural husband. *Type 425A; *Tegethoff Amor und Psyche 33; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C426 | Tabu: revealing secret song. African: Werner African 209. |
| C51.4 | Tabu: revealing secrets of god. Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 363 n. 1, Grote I 145.—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 298 No. 6 (investigating secret source of magic wine cask). |
| C31.9 | Tabu: revealing secrets of supernatural wife. (Cf. C420). *Schofield PMLA XV 165; Irish myth: Cross. |
| C423 | Tabu: revealing the marvelous. |
| C428 | Tabu: revealing time of Messiah's advent. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C891.1 | Tabu: riding dirty on black-heeled horse across certain plain. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C756.0.1 | Tabu: ringing bell before certain time. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 242 No. 188. |
| C94.7 | Tabu: ringing of church bell by nun. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C54 | Tabu: rivaling the gods. Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 20 n. 1 (Thamyris), I 31 (Side), Fox 220 (Marsyas), Grote I 103f., 146, 238, Gaster Thespis 261f., 289; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C94.3.1 | Tabu: rudeness to sacred animal. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C94 | Tabu: rudeness to sacred person or thing. |
| C865 | Tabu: running a race. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C181.9 | Tabu: Saora women not to wear gold earrings. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C31.4.2 | Tabu: scolding supernatural wife. English: Child V 495 s.v. "scolding".—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 296 No. 21; England: Baughman. —Melanesian: Codrington The Melanesians 172. |
| C491.1 | Tabu: screaming at terrible sight. Hartland Science 243. |
| C319.2 | Tabu: seeing dead man not killed by weapons. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C316.1 | Tabu: seeing herd red-headed and white-starred. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C311.1 | Tabu: seeing supernatural creatures. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 50. |
| C311 | Tabu: seeing the supernatural. *Fb "se" III 173a; Irish myth: Cross. |
| C311.1.6 | Tabu: seeing witch in her true form. German: Grimm No. 43. |
| C782.2 | Tabu: selling to witch. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 843. |
| C782.1 | Tabu: selling used clothing.—Fb "klæder" II 200a. |
| C782 | Tabu: selling. *Hdwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 810. |
| C566.6 | Tabu: sex activity for warriors. (Cf. C110.) Jewish: Neuman. |
| C119.1 | Tabu: sexual intercourse at certain time. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C119.1.1 | Tabu: sexual intercourse during illness. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C142 | Tabu: sexual intercourse during menses. Hebrew: Leviticus 20: 18; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| C119.1.4 | Tabu: sexual intercourse during religious festival (18 days). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C116 | Tabu: sexual intercourse in sacred precinct. (Cf. Q551.3.)—*Krappe Balor 82ff.; Jewish: Neuman; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| C119.1.2 | Tabu: sexual intercourse on Sabbath. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C112 | Tabu: sexual intercourse with unearthly beings. (Cf. C122.) —English: Child V 500 s.v. "unearthly".—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 321—22; Herrmann Saxo II 588, Boberg; S. Am. Indian (Lengua): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 369. |
| C110 | Tabu: sexual intercourse. *Frazer Golden Bough XII 225f. s.v. "continence", 214 s.v. "chastity"; Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| C110.1 | Tabu: sexual relationship with girls of nobility while having sore on body. Mono: Wheeler 30. |
| C722.0.1 | Tabu: shaving. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C55.2 | Tabu: shooting at consecrated wafer. Man's ghost wanders. Type 756C.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3320; Legends Nos. 615—623; Livonian: Loorits in FFC LCVI 59 No. 138. |
| C32.1.2 | Tabu: showing surprise when supernatural husband resumes his true shape. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C481 | Tabu: singing. |
| C752.1.3 | Tabu: single person entering one's house after sunset. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C755.5 | Tabu: sitting on certain sepulchral mounds in autumn. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C41.3.1 | Tabu: skating over water when spirits are offended. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 277 n. 23. |
| C211.3 | Tabu: sky dwellers eating on earth. Africa (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 38. |
| C93.5 | Tabu: slaughtering buffalo in temple. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| C561.1 | Tabu: slave going near fetish. African (Ekoi): Talbot 27; Maori: Clark 128; Jewish: Neuman. |
| C835.2.4 | Tabu: slaying woman with spear. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C735.2.10 | Tabu: sleeping at one's own home. Jewish: Neuman. |
| C735.2.1.1 | Tabu: sleeping before lapse of seven days in cloudland. Africa (Congo): Weeks 217. |
| C735.1.2 | Tabu: sleeping before task is finished. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G 3/1174). |
| C735.1 | Tabu: sleeping during certain time. *Type 400; BP II 318 ff.; Irish myth: Cross.—N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Parsons JAFL XXIX 393; (Ojibwa): Jones-Michelson PAES VII (2) 231 No. 20, (Bella Coola): Boas JE I 58.—Africa (Congo): Weeks 217 No. 12. |
| C735.2.5 | Tabu: sleeping in cemetery. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| C735.2 | Tabu: sleeping in certain place. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C735.1.0.1 | Tabu: sleeping in certain position during certain time. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C735.2.2 | Tabu: sleeping in empty hut. Africa (Kaffir): Theal 86. |
| C735.2.4 | Tabu: sleeping in house lighted after sunset. Irish myth: Cross. |
| C735.2.1 | Tabu: sleeping in other world. Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 281, (Congo): Weeks 217 No. 22. |
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