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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A1263.2 | Man created from fingernail. Yuracare (West Brazil): Alexander Lat. Am. 314. |
| A1266 | Man created from food. |
| A1263 | Man created from part of body. |
| A1263.3 | Man created from rubbings of skin. India: Thompson-Balys; Zuсi: Parsons JAFL XXIX 394 n. 1. |
| A1261.1 | Man created from sea-foam. *Dh I 18f., cf. 23. |
| A1254 | Man created from seeds. Burmese: Scott Indo-Chin. 281; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 450; Isthmian tribes (Panama): Alexander Lat. Am. 193; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684. |
| A1263.4 | Man created from spittle of holy person. *Fb "spytte" III 515b. |
| A1245 | Man created from stones. Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 463.—Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 55 n. 2; Fox 11.—Nauru (Pleasant Is.): Dixon 252; Tongan, Samoan, Melanesian: ibid. 158; Indonesian: Kruyt Het Animisme 469.—Central American: Van Cappelle Mythen en Sagen uit West Indië 19; S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 315, (Paressi): Métraux ibid. (3) 359. |
| A1262.1 | Man created from sweat, heat, and breath. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1262 | Man created from sweat. Icel.: De la Saussaye 342. |
| A1212 | Man created in creator's image. Jewish: *Neuman; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 43. |
| A1201 | Man created to rule the earth. Africa (Fang): Trilles 131. |
| A1275.5 | Man creates a woman from melted butter, sour milk, sour cream and curds offered on the waters. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1263.1.2 | Man from blood of game animal. S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684. |
| A1241.4.1 | Man from clay and animal's blood. Africa (Loango): pechuël-Loesche 267. |
| A1211.1 | Man from dirt mixed with creator's blood. Eitrem Opferritus und Voropfer der Griechen und Römer (Skrifter Akad. Oslo 1914 No. 1 426).—Gaster Oldest Stories 69; Babylonian: Spence 81.—New Britain: Dixon 107 (figures drawn on ground and sprinkled with creator's blood). |
| A1255.2 | Man from ears of corn. Navaho: Alexander N. Am. 158. |
| A1211.3 | Man from spittle of creator. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 32; Oceanic: Dixon 24. |
| A1255.1 | Man from sugar-cane stalks. Solomon Is., New Britain: Dixon 110. |
| A1211.2 | Man from sweat of creator. Dh I 113; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 33.—Persian: Carnoy 293. |
| A1421.1 | Man given dominion over beasts. Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1225.2.1 | Man given hands, feet, mouth and nose by monkey. S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 68. |
| A751.3.1 | Man in moon a frog which has jumped into person's face and remains there. *Köhler-Bolte I 473ff.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 291 n. 69. |
| A751.1.3 | Man in moon as punishment for disdainful sacrifice (Cain). Emerson "Medieval Legends of Cain" PMLA XXI 840ff. |
| A751.1.4 | Man in moon banished there for stealing bundle of thorns. Emerson PMLA XXI 840ff. |
| A751.1.1 | Man in moon has punishment for burning brush on Sunday. **Hench The Man in the Moon and his Sticks (SFQ XIV 169).—North Carolina: Brown Collection I 631. |
| A751.8.2 | Man in moon is a woman threshing corn with a dog by her side. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A751.1 | Man in moon is person thrown or sent there as punishment. *Dh I 254ff.; *ibid. II 242 (Judas); Köhler-Bolte I 114 (Judas), III 597; *Fb "mеne" II 659b.; Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 275ff., (1928) 171; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3907; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII 84 No. 4; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 37f. No. 25; Madison County Virginia (U.S.A.): Hench JAFL XLVIII 384.—Isthmian tribes (Panama): Alexander Lat. Am. 192 (punishment for incest); Yuracare (West Brazil): Alexander ibid. 314. |
| A751.1.2 | Man in moon is put there as punishment for cursing God. U.S.: Baughman. |
| A751.2 | Man in the moon a rabbit (hare, other animal). *Werhan Die Sage 65; Fb "mеne" II 659b.—Hindu- Keith 137, Penzer I 109 n. 1, II 82, V 101 n. 2, IX 143, Jataka Index s.v. "moon", Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 675, 1079; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Anesaki 339.—Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 57, 89; S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503 (jaguar). |
| A751.5 | Man in the moon from scratches or paint. S. Am. Indian (Caviсa, Tumupasa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448, (Chamacoco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, (Tembé): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 140, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 142f., (Peru): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 123. |
| A751.8.1 | Man in the moon is an old woman busy with her spindle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A751.5.2 | Man in the moon: dung (ashes) on moon's face smeared there by sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A751.5.1 | Man in the moon: moon's face scratched by hare in retaliation for injury to hare. (Cf. A2216.3.)—Hottentot: Bleek 72 No. 33. |
| A751.4 | Man in the moon: tarring of the moon. Man sets out to tar the moon and remains with his tar-bucket in the moon.—Finnish: *Aarne FFC VIII 4 No. 8; XXXIII 51 No. 8; Livonian: *Loorits FFC LXVI 81 No. 7; Estonian: *Aarne FFC XXV 140 No. 6. |
| A751 | Man in the moon. A man is said to be seen in the moon. Various explanations are given as to how he came to be there.—*Dh I 134; *Volksmann Am Urquell V 285, VI 75, 126, 199; *Cornelissen Ons Volksleven VI 168ff., 189ff.; *Köhler-Bolte III 597; *Robinson Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer (Boston 1933) 929; *Brown English Lyrics of the Thirteenth Century (Oxford 1932) 234ff.; *Hench JAFL XLVIII 384; *G. de Raille RTP III 129ff.; Basset RTP XXIII 220 and references to earlier volumes.—Breton: *Sébillot Incidents s.v. "homme"; Estonian: *Aarne FFC XXV 140 No. 7, Loorits Grundzüge I 427f.; Livonian: *Loorits FFC LXVI 81 No. 8; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 423; Armenian: Ananikian 52; Flemish: *De Meyer FFC XXXVII 82 No. 8; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 37, 214 No. 163, 221, 250.—Maori: Dixon 88; N. A. Indian (general): *Thompson Tales 291 n. 69, (Haida, Tlingit, Kwakiutl): Alexander N. Am. 257, (Loucheux): Barbeau JAFL XXVIII 255; Hottentot: Bleek 72 No. 33: Am. Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 130 No. 17. |
| A1445.2.2 | Man learns housebuilding from wasp. S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 685. |
| A1211.5.1 | Man made from broken off toenail of creator. S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503. |
| A1241 | Man made from clay (earth). *Dh I 89-III passim; Barton JAOS XXXIX 287; *Frazer Old Testament I 3—29.—Irish myth: Cross; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 51 n. 5, Fox 10f., 13, 208; Jewish: *Neuman; Hindu: Penzer III 59; Babylonian: Spence 86; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 373; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 114ff.—Polynesian (Maori, Hawaii, Tahiti, Society Is., Marquesas): Dixon 24—26; Indonesian: ibid. 172ff. n. 96—100, 104—106; Australian: ibid. 273; Marquesas: Handy 122f.; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 44ff.; Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 315.—Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 454; N. A. Indian: Krickeberg Indianermärchen 267, 307, 321f., (Calif.): Gayton and Newman 56; S. Am. Indian (Lengua): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367, (Apapocuva-Guarani): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 136; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 85; Quiché: ibid. 163. |
| A1241.3 | Man made from clay image and vivified. (Cf. A1241.2, A1252.1.) —Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 4, 34f.; Jewish: *Neuman, Moreno Esdras; Indonesian: Dixon 172ff.; Banks Is., New Hebrides: ibid. 107; Hawaii: *Beckwith Myth 43—46; S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 315, (Yuracare): Métraux ibid. (3) 504; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 94. |
| A1260.1 | Man made from combination of different objects. Grimm Deutsche Mythologie I 468ff.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 371. |
| A1211 | Man made from creator's body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1211.4 | Man made from creator's eye. Egyptian: Müller 70ff. |
| A1211.5 | Man made from dirt rubbed from creator's (hero's) body. (Cf. A833). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1241.4 | Man made from earth reddened with blood of human sacrifice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1256.1 | Man made from grass. Hindu: Penzer IV 128.—Ata (Mindanao): Dixon 176. |
| A1256 | Man made from herb. Tunja (Colombia): Alexander Lat. Am. 200. |
| A1266.1 | Man made from meat-ball. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 89 No. 49. |
| A1240 | Man made from mineral substance. |
| A1241.1 | Man made from piece of clay thrown on ground. Babylonian: Spence 162. |
| A1255 | Man made from plant. Sulka (New Britain): Dixon 130, 132 n. 2. |
| A1241.2 | Man made from sand sprinkled with water. Muzo (Colombia): Alexander Lat. Am. 200. |
| A1250 | Man made from vegetable substance. |
| A1261 | Man made from water. Greek: Fox 10; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1260.1.5 | Man made of clay with bones of stone, with blood of water and with vines for veins. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1241.5 | Man made of earth brought from four different places. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1260.1.1 | Man made of four elements. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1260.1.2 | Man made of substances from eight different sources. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1346.2 | Man must labor for a living: at first everything too easy. Full crops produce themselves, trees drop sugar etc.—Greek: Grote I 61; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Seneca: Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 462; S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 59f. |
| A1346.1 | Man must work as punishment for theft of fire. Greek: Fox 14. |
| A1225.2 | Man originally without hands and feet. Boy steals them from Python, and afterward men have them.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 376. |
| A1215 | Man originates from god who comes to earth. West Caroline Is.: Dixon 250. |
| A1421.1.1 | Man rules all animals. God gives greatest strength to lion, but because of man's wisdom lion is in his power. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3110, Legends No. 215. |
| A1211.0.1 | Man springs into existence from deity's body by his mere thinking. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2721.3.1 | Man tells Jesus he is sowing stones. "You shall get stones." Why peas do not soften in boiling. Esthonian: Aarne FFC XXV 152 No. 78; cf. Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 96 No. 124; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3016. |
| A1346 | Man to earn bread by sweat of his brow. (Cf. A1331.1.)—Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 158; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A135 | Man-eating god (goddess). Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 29f.; Maori: Beckwith Myth 243. |
| A1360 | Man's growth and maturity. |
| A2611.5 | Mandrake from blood of person hanged on gallows. (Cf. A2664.) —**Starck Der Alraun; *Taylor JAFL XXXI 561f.; Penzer III 153.; *Fb "alrunerod" IV 10a. |
| A1232 | Mankind ascends from under the earth. (Cf. A1631.) Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Chaco, Pampean): Alexander Lat. Am. 322, (Tereno, Caduveo, Mbaya): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367, (Inca): Rowe ibid. (2) 315, (Munderucú): Horton ibid. (3) 281, (Viracocha): Steward-Métraux ibid. (3) 550, (Chamacoco): Métraux MAFLS XL 25; N. Am. Indian (Zuсi): *Benedict 337. |
| A1221.1 | Mankind begotten by giant's two feet. He touches one foot with the other and begets progeny.—Icel.: De la Saussaye 342 (Ymir). |
| A1224.4 | Mankind born from a cow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1224.6 | Mankind descended from fish. S. Am. Indian (Tucuna): Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII 93, 294. |
| A1224.1 | Mankind descended from tadpoles. Wa (Indo-Chinese): Scott Indo-Chinese 293. |
| A1224.2 | Mankind descended from worms or larvae. Eastern Indonesian: Dixon 169; Tonga: Gifford 15f.; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684. |
| A1232.3.1 | Mankind emerges from a pit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1236.1 | Mankind emerges from buds on trees. Nias Is.: Dixon 167; Sumatran: ibid. 160. |
| A1232.3 | Mankind emerges from caves. India: Thompson-Balys; Haitian: Alexander Lat. Am. 30; S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 317, (Aymara): Tschopik ibid. (2) 571, (Araucanian): Cooper ibid. (2) 753, (Yuracare): Métraux ibid. (3) 503, (Mbaya): Métraux ibid. (1) 367, (Tiatinagua): Métraux ibid. (3) 449, (Caduveo): Métraux MAFLS XL 106; African: Werner African 147. |
| A1234 | Mankind emerges from ground. Greek: *Grote I 177; Australian: Dixon Oc. Myth. 271; Papuan (British New Guinea): ibid. 110; Indonesian: ibid. 169 n. 79—81; Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 312; Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 47; African: Werner African 147. |
| A1232.2 | Mankind emerges from lake. A woman and boy. They marry and populate earth.—Chibcha (with reference to other South American tribes): Alexander Lat. Am. 199. |
| A1234.2 | Mankind emerges from mountain. Pijaos (Colombia): Alexander Lat. Am. 200. |
| A1236 | Mankind emerges from tree. (Cf. A1251.)—Indonesian: Dixon 168f.; Papuan (British New Guinea): ibid. 110; Sumatra: ibid. 160.—S. Am. Indian (Warrau): Kirchoff BBAE CXLIII (3) 880, (Chamacoco): Métraux ibid. (1) 367; African: Werner African 145f. |
| A1232.2.1 | Mankind emerges from water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1221.2 | Mankind from "Peace and Quiet fructified by Light." Hawaiian: Dixon 16. |
| A1232.1 | Mankind from bones of dead brought from underworld. Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 90. |
| A1245.3 | Mankind from cleft rock. Formosa: Dixon 170; Gilbert Is.: ibid. 251. |
| A1231.1 | Mankind from featherless bird sent from sky. Sumatra: Dixon 169. |
| A1221.6 | Mankind from human-animal mating. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 88. |
| A1216.1 | Mankind from masturbation of creator with earth. (Cf. A615.1.) Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 314. |
| A1221.5 | Mankind from mating of frog and "daughter of fire." Africa: Bouvergnes 33, 40. |
| A1221.3 | Mankind from mating of pairs of reeds. Igorot (Luzon): Dixon 176. |
| A1221.4 | Mankind from mating of tree and vine. Borneo: Dixon 159; Samoan: ibid. 164 n. 37. |
| A1245.4 | Mankind from salty stone (ice block) licked by cow. (Audhumla). —Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 63, 324, Boberg. |
| A1221 | Mankind from unusual primeval mating. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1245.2 | Mankind from vivified stone image. (Cf. A1241.3, A1252.1.). —Indonesian: Dixon 174. |
| A1252.1 | Mankind from vivified wooden image. (Cf. A1241.3, A1245.2) —Indonesian: Dixon 172ff.; Admiralty Is., Banks Is.: ibid. 106; India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Bacairi, Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 312. |
| A1224.0.1 | Mankind is descended from marriage of human being and animal. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 482, cf. Thompson Tales n. 2; S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503. |
| A1260 | Mankind made from miscellaneous materials. Indonesian: Dixon 176. |
| A1222 | Mankind originates from eggs. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 89 No. 49; India: Thompson-Balys; Oceanic: Dixon 109 (Fiji, Torres Straits, Admiralty Is.), 109 n. 17 (Polynesia, Indonesia, Micronesia), 160 (Sumatra), 169f. (Indonesia), Handy 125 (Marquesas); S. Am. Indian (Jivaro): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 148, (Mbaya): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367. |
| A1247 | Mankind originates from metals. Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 85. |
| A1246 | Mankind originates from shell. New Hebrides: Dixon 110. |
| A1348 | Mankind's escape from trouble. |
| A941.5.2 | Many-colored fountain breaks forth where saint strikes earth with his foot. |
| A123.7.1 | Many-colored god. Hindu: Keith 81 (Shiva). |
| A751.5.3 | Mark of her mother's hand to be seen on moon's shoulder. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A751.5.4 | Mark of tiger's paw on moon. India. Thompson-Balys. |
| A2412.2.2 | Markings of francolin. (See A2232.6.) |
| A2412.1 | Markings of mammals. |
| A2221.3 | Markings on animals as recollections of Christ's life and sufferings. (cf. A2412.)—Dh II 227ff. |
| A2751.3 | Markings on bark of plant. |
| A2412.2 | Markings on birds. (See A2211.7.) |
| A2412.4.3 | Markings on cod-fish. From devil's fingers.—Fb "torsk" III 830a. |
| A2412.4 | Markings on fish. (See A2217.3, A2213.2.)—Eskimo (Labrador): Hawks GSCan XIV 155. |
| A2412.4.5 | Markings on flying fish. New Guinea: Kerr 25. |
| A2412.3 | Markings on insects. Japanese: Ikeda. |
| A2412.4.2 | Markings on king-salmon. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 242 (red marks below ears). |
| A2412.5 | Markings on other animals. |
| A2412.4.1 | Markings on sun-fish. (See A2217.3.) |
| A2412.2.1 | Markings on tail-feathers of ruffed grouse. Ojibwa: Jones JAFL XXIX 370. |
| A2412.5.1 | Markings on tortoise's back. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2217.3.2 | Marks on certain fish from devil's fingerprints. England: *Baughman. |
| A2217.3 | Marks on certain fish from fingerprints. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z—G 13/317, t—G 3/600). |
| A2217.3.1 | Marks on certain fish from St. Peter's fingerprints. (Cf. A901, A2217.2, A2412.4).—Dh II 180 ff., III 55.—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 89 No. 119b; Irish: Beal XXI 305; England: Baughman. |
| A60 | Marplot at creation. An evil opponent attempts to undo or mar the work of the creator.—Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 315f.—Borneo: Dixon 170; Melanesian: *Codrington JAI X 293; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45.—So. Am. Indian (Toba, Mataco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 368f.—India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1552 | Marriage between close relatives. |
| A702.5 | Marriage of earth and sky. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A164 | Marriage or liaison of gods. Irish myth: Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 964; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A475.0.2 | Marriage-god. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1029.1 | Marvelous tree survives deluge. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A123.5.2 | Marvels concerning God's arm and fingers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2615.1 | Mary hides in ground nail to be used for cross: origin of thistles. (Cf. A2688.1.)—Dh II 216. |
| A52.3 | Material of which angels are created (fire, water and snow). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A164.4 | Matriarchy among the gods. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1511.1 | Mealtimes from confused message from God. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 120 No. 77. |
| A931 | Meander-pursuit. (Cf. A901.)—A fugitive's doublings cause a river's windings.—N. A. Indian: Kroeber JAFL XXI 224, (Micmac): Speck JAFL XXVIII 60, (Calif.): Gayton and Newman 62. |
| A2426.2.12 | Meaning of swallow's song. Fb "svale". |
| A2465 | Means of capturing animal. |
| A1352.2 | Means of persuading persons to intercourse. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A1186 | Measuring the world. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2783 | Medicinal properties of trees. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1321 | Men and animals readjust span of life. At first, thirty years are given to all animals and to man. For the animals it is too long, for man too short. Man is given a portion of animals' lives. Years 1—30 vigorous (man's own); 30—48 burdens and blows (ass's); 48—60 no teeth (dog's); 60—70 foolish (monkey's).—*BP III 290 (Gr. No. 176); *Fb "menneske" II 577b; Halm Aesop No. 173; Wesselski Bebel II 135 No. 103.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3060, Balys Legends Nos. 113f.; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1224.5.1 | Men are monkeys who have lost their tails. Chinese: Graham. |
| A1346.2.3 | Men are too happy: pain and sickness created. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A41 | Men as God's advisers. *Dh I 3. |
| A1301 | Men at first as large as giants. Dh I 242ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: *Grote I 5; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1265 | Men created from sown dragon's teeth. Cadmus, Jason.—Grierson FL XXXIII (1922) 380.—Greek: Fox 10, 45, 112; Frazer Apollodorus I 315 n. 2. |
| A1335.10 | Men die because a snake comes to prey on mankind while creator rests. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1253.2.2 | Men from long nuts, women from short ones. S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 108. |
| A1038 | Men hide from world-fire and renew race. (Cf. A1006.1., A1045.) —Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 311 No. 47; India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Toba, Arawak, Mura, Yuracare, Tupinamba): Métraux MAFLS XL 34-36, (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 158; African (Fang): Trilles 133f. |
| A1394 | Men live by the breath of the gods. (Cf. A1241.3.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1316.3.3 | Men originally blind: eyes opened by accident. Africa (Dahomey): Einstein 18f. |
| A1281.4 | Men originally self-luminous. Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 385. |
| A738.2 | Mental powers and disposition of sun. |
| A165.2 | Messenger of the gods. *Güntert Weltkönig 280; Gaster Thespis 139.—Greek: Fox 191 (Hermes, Iris), Grote I 43; Irish: Beal XXI 319, 336; India: *Thompson-Balys; Jewish: *Neuman; Huichol: Alexander Lat. Am. 122.—Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 31, Henry 164. |
| A2442 | Method and position of bird's flight. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1853.1.1 | Mice engendered after flood from rottenness: no mice on ark. Nouvelles Récréations No. 66. |
| 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. |
| A154.4 | Milk of the gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A778.1 | Milky Way a hunting party. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 436.—Tehuelche (Pategonia): Alexander Lat. Am. 336. |
| A778.3 | Milky Way as a river. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 435; Japanese: Ikeda.—Blackfoot: De Josselyn de Jong Blackfoot Texts 29ff. |
| A778.2 | Milky Way as a road. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 20, Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 365. |
| 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. |
| A778.7 | 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. |
| A778.2.1 | 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. |
| A778.9 | Milky Way as race track. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 66. |
| A778.6 | Milky Way as the sperma of the gods. Eisler Weltenmantel und Himmelszelt 482. |
| 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. |
| A778.1.1 | 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. |
| A677.2 | Miller of hell. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A522.1.5 | Mink as culture hero. N. Am. Indian: Boas RBAE XXXI 585. |
| A511.4.1 | Miraculous growth of culture hero. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 38, 87, 102; S. Am. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 135. |
| A2494.12 | Miscellaneous enmities of mammals. (Cf.A2494.13.3, A2494.13.5.) |
| A490 | Miscellaneous gods of the earth. *Hartmann Die germanische Gottheit des Jahres und des Lebens (Halle 1935). |
| A751.9 | Miscellaneous images on moon. |
| A2849.1 | Miscellaneous Jewish origins. Jewish: **Neuman. |
| A104.3 | Miscellaneous objects become gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 2. |
| A924 | Miscellaneous origins of the ocean. |
| A2849 | Miscellaneous origins. |
| A2730 | Miscellaneous reasons for plant characteristics. |
| A1031.6 | Miscellaneous reasons for world-fire. S. Am. Indian (Witoto, Apapocuva-Guarani): Métraux MAFLS XL 36, (Toba): ibid. 19, (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 316. |
| A690 | Miscellaneous worlds. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1313.3 | Misplaced genitalia. Originally genitals are misplaced. They are properly arranged by the culture hero.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 56f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 288 n. 59a.; Hatt Asiatic Influences 84f. |
| A102.15 | Modesty of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2213.5.1 | Mole struck on head in attempt to steal fire: hence his flat head. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 109. |
| A132.2 | Monkey as god. Chinese: Werner 325ff.; Hindu: Penzer II 73, 197 n. 2, IV 126, VIII 44; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2241.11 | Monkey borrows tail from deer and refuses to return it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1861.1 | Monkeys from children hidden by Eve when God visited her. (Cf. A1650.1, A1710.)—BP III 320f.; Dh I 247. |
| A2497.1 | Monogamous life of dove. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2497 | Monogamy among animals. |
| A1074.1 | Monster fettered with sword just out of reach. If he reaches it he will free himself.—*Olrik Ragnarök 136ff., 184ff., 225. |
| A1087 | Monsters kill each other off at end of world. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A123 | Monstrous gods. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A753.1.3 | Moon (goddess, woman) cohabits with mortal man. Maori: Beckwith Myth 244. |
| A753.1.2 | Moon (man) cohabits with woman. Maori: Beckwith Myth 74; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 47; S. Am. Indian (Cubeo): Goldman BBAE CXLIII (3) 798. |
| A753.1.1 | Moon abducts woman. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 29, (Cape York): Rasmussen III 50. |
| A753.1.5 | Moon and mortal have child. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 199, (Greenland): Holm 47. |
| A753 | Moon as a person. |
| A121.1 | Moon as deity. (cf. A240). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A741.3 | Moon as grinder which brings fire out of the sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A695 | Moon as next world. (Cf. A750.) Hindu: Keith 101. |
| A753.3 | Moon as person—miscellaneous. |
| A756 | Moon as sun's representative at night. Egyptian: Müller 84. |
| A753.1 | Moon as wooer. The moon is enamored of a mortal.—Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 61 n. 2 (Endymion); Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 427.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 273 n. 6a. |
| A745.1 | Moon born from first couple. Gilbert Is. (Micronesia): Dixon 254. |
| A754.1 | Moon buried in pit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A755.4.1 | Moon cut in half. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A755.4 | Moon cut in two by sun: hence waxes and wanes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A753.3.1 | Moon deceives sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A753.3.4 | Moon endowed with wisdom and passion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A754.1.1 | Moon falls into pit but is rescued by man. S. Am. Indian (Guayaki): Métraux-Baldus BBAE CXLIII (1) 444. |
| A1016.6 | Moon falls into sea and causes flood by overflowing. S. Am. Indian (Fueginos): Coazzi Rev. Chil. Hist. Geogr. X 31. |
| A712.1 | Moon from light, sun from fire. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A741 | Moon from object (person) thrown into sky. Admiralty Is.: Dixon 112; Cook Group: ibid. 37; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 215. |
| A743 | Moon from transformed object. |
| A753.2 | Moon has house. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 30, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 598, (Greenland): Rasmussen I 81, 83, II 25, 33, III 51, 170, Rink 442, Holm 73, 75, 80. |
| A759.1 | Moon has wooden weapons, therefore vulnerable. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| 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. |
| A741.1 | Moon is water slung into sky. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 421. |
| A753.1.4.2 | Moon is wife to all twelve brothers of the sun and they have her a month at a time because she ate up her sisters. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A754 | Moon kept in box. (Cf. A755.1).—French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 11.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 282 n. 45; German New Guinea: Dixon 112.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 421; Chinese: Graham. |
| A736.1.4.1.1 | Moon kills sun's children. Africa (Fang): Milligan Jungle 248. |
| A742 | Moon made from shining fragments. A cap is opened and shining things fall out. Children pick them up and put them into a box. At the end of the month the box is full. The full moon shines when all the fragments are gathered together.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 349. |
| A753.1.4 | Moon married to mortal woman. India: Thompson-Balys (A753.2); Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 29ff., (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 198, (Greenland): Rasmussen III 50, 52, Rink 441, Holm 47. |
| A753.1.4.1 | Moon married to son of sky-god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1053.1 | Moon shining by day as sign of Doomsday. (Cf. A1002.) Jewish: Moreno Esdras (M307.2). |
| A2216.3 | Moon splits hare's lip with hatchet: hence hare-lip. (Cf. A2211.2, A751.5.1, A2342.1.)—Hottentot: Bleek 72 No. 33. |
| A751.5.5 | Moon spots are tattoo marks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A153.3.1 | Moon steals food from banquet of the gods. (cf. A153.1.). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A753.3.2 | Moon steals from a garden. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A755.4.2 | Moon stolen and divided into quarters. German: Grimm No. 175. |
| A735.1 | Moon tied to sun so that when sun sinks moon is dragged up to light earth. Maori: Clark 46. |
| A759.6 | Moon under direct control of deity. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 854. |
| A751.5.2.1 | Moon wants to marry his sister the sun. She is angered and throws hot ashes on his face.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A745.3 | Moon younger brother of the sun. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 158, 165. |
| A757 | Moon-boat. Lappish: Friis Lappisk Mythologi 79. |
| A757.1 | Moon-chariot. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A182.3.6 | Moon-god, overcome in contest with mortal, threatens to withold rain and game. Eskimo: Holm 75, Rink 442. |
| A240 | Moon-god. D. Nielson Die altarabische Mondreligion und die mosaische Ueberlieferung (Strassburg 1904); **Siecke Hermes der Mondgott; Gaster Thespis 291.—Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 186; Egyptian: Müller 32, 33; Maspéro Histoire ancienne des peuples de l'Orient classique 145; Hindu: Keith 90f., Oldenberg Religion des Veda 193, Penzer III 161 n. 1, India: Thompson-Balys, Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 854, II 735, 962; Japan: Beckwith Myth 102; Finno-Ugric: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 223; Armenian: Ananikian 11. |
| A240.1 | Moon-goddess. Usener IV 1; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 186f. (Artemis, Hekate); India: Thompson-Balys; Tonga: Gifford 181. |
| A736.1.4.2 | Moon, sun are sister and brother, wife and husband. India: Thompson-Balys. Cf. A736.1.2. |
| A737.5 | Moon's eclipse caused by moon's interfering between attacker and person attacked. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A755.6 | Moon's phases as punishment for moon's misdoing. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A755.4.3 | Moon's phases caused by animals gnawing at edge. S. Am. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 360. |
| A755.5 | Moon's phases caused by feeding or starving. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19, (Ipurina): Métraux ibid. 20. |
| A755.1 | Moon's phases caused by its being put in box. (Cf.A754). When it is closed up in the box, it is dark; when taken out of the box, light.—Ekoi: Talbot 344. |
| A755.2 | Moon's phases caused by watcher's death. Moon is hung in tree and is tended by four men. As one dies it loses a quarter. Later it is united in the lower world.—BP III 288ff. (Gr. No. 175).—Cf. Ekoi: Talbot 344. |
| A755.3 | Moon's waning caused by her sickness. Belden MLN XX 205; Penzer VI 119 n. 1.—Maori: Clark 182; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A755.7 | Moon's waning caused by menstrual period. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A189.11 | Mortal adopted son by god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
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