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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 |
|---|---|
| A902 | Topographical features of the earth arranged by creator. (Cf. A0.)—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.—African: Werner African 143.—N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 30. |
| A902.1 | Two creators go by different route to establish features of the earth. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 59. |
| A903 | Topographical features caused by animals. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| A910 | Origin of water features—general. |
| A910.1 | Waters created on first day of creation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A910.2 | Waters created as punishment. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A910.3 | Bodies of water in primitive abyss sink. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A910.4 | Bodies of water remnant of flood. S. A. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 133. |
| A910.5 | Waters created by divine twins. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 167. |
| A911 | Bodies of water from tears. (Cf. A901, A920.1.5, A941.2, A1012.) —Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 135; Nebraska: Pound WF VI 305—316; Finnish: Kalevala rune 4; African (Upoto): Einstein 127. |
| A913 | Origin of tides. *Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens II 513 s.v. "Ebbe und Flut".—Persian: Carnoy 278.—Shetland Is.: Teit JAFL XXXI 198.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 293 n. 76a, and add (Malecite) Speck JAFL XXVIII 60, (Tahltan) Teit JAFL XXXII 201. |
| A913.1 | Tidal wave or surge marks place of death of person. (Cf. A920.1.4, A936.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| A913.2 | Tide caused by breathing of sea-monster. Maori: Clark 180. |
| A913.3 | Ebb-tide goes to great whirlpool. Tonga: Gifford 144. |
| A913.4 | Tub that drips at high tide but holds water at low tide. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A914 | Mountains push water westward. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 54. |
| A915 | Why waters do not engulf the earth. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A917 | Quarrel between earth and waters. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A918 | Male and female waters. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A920 | Origin of the seas. Jewish: Neuman; Persian: Carnoy 270, 277f.—Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 87; Buin: Wheeler 28.—Hatt: Asiatic Influences 17. |
| A920.1 | Origin of lakes. Fb "sø" III 731a.—Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 135 (cf. A911), Cross; Indo-Chinese: Scott Indo-Chinese 291 (cf. A901).—Tahltan: *Teit JAFL XXXII, 219f.; Malecite: Speck JAFL XXX 481. |
| A920.1.0.1 | Origin of particular lake. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A920.1.1 | Inexhaustible buckets as source of lakes. Chinese: Werner 221. |
| A920.1.2 | Lakes from digging of primeval ox. (Cf. A901.)—Kirghis: Holmberg Siberian 331. |
| A920.1.3 | Lake bursts forth to drown thief. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A939.1 | River bursts from well in pursuit. |
| A920.1.4 | Lakes burst forth to commemorate birth, death, battle, etc., of primitive hero. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.5 | Lakes originate from tears. (Cf. A901, A911.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.5.1 | Lakes originate from belches. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.6 | Lake from urine of horse. (Cf. A933.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.7 | Lake created by fairies. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.7.1 | Lake bursts forth to quell fairy war. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.8 | Lake bursts forth to drown impious people. Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 241ff., (1931) 162ff.; Fb "sø" III 731a; G. Schütte in Danske Studier (1925) 117ff. |
| A920.1.8.1 | Lake from violating tabu. Irish myth: Cross; Africa: Bouveignes 21—29. |
| A920.1.9 | Lake bursts forth where island is plowed out. (See A951.)—Olrik Danske Studier (1910) 1ff. |
| A920.1.10 | Lakes made by giant or devil. Lithuanian: Balys Historical. |
| A920.1.11 | Woman transformed to pool of water. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.12 | Lake bursts forth where blind king plucks rushes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.13 | Lake of milk formed through virtue of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A920.1.14 | Lakes are daughters of the gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A920.1.15 | Origin of the Dead Sea. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A920.1.16 | Lake originally filled with palm wine. Africa (Bushonga): Torday 235. |
| A920.2 | Origin of sea channels. Tonga: Gifford 87, 94. |
| A921 | Ocean the son of Earth and Heaven. Greek: Fox. |
| A922 | Ocean made from blood. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325f.; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 51 No. 7**; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 86 No. 45.—Oceanic: Dixon 37 n. 107, 108 (Polynesia, Samoa, Marquesas). |
| A923 | Ocean from creator's sweat. Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 64.—Polynesian: Dixon 37 n. 106. |
| A923.1 | Ocean from urine. (Cf. A933.)—Buin: Wheeler Mono-Alu 28, Aurora (New Hebrides): Codrington II 372. |
| A924 | Miscellaneous origins of the ocean. |
| A924.1 | Origin of sea from overturned calabash. Haitian: Alexander Lat. Am. 29. |
| A924.2 | Origin of sea from rotting snakes. Buin: Wheeler Mono-Alu 28. |
| A924.3 | Sea released from tree-top. Papua: Kerr 25. |
| A924.4 | Sea from earth excavation. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 973. |
| A925 | Origin of various qualities of the sea. |
| A925.1 | Origin of high sea waves. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/441). |
| A925.2 | Origin of sea's color. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A925.3 | Origin of foul odor of sea. Jewish: Neuman; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1110). |
| A925.4 | Origin of fresh water welling up in sea. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 96. |
| A925.5 | Origin of mournful sound of sea. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 21. |
| A925.6 | Origin of surf. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 436. |
| A925.7 | Origin of shining patches beneath sea. Tonga: Gifford 200. |
| A928 | Giant drinks up ocean. Hindu: Keith 146.—Cf. Icel.: Meyer Mythologie der Germanen (1903) 244 (Thor lowers level of ocean). |
| A930 | Origin of streams. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A930.1 | Creator of rivers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A930.1.1 | Snake as creator of rivers and lakes. Papua: Kerr 57; Mono-Alu: Wheeler 67. |
| 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. |
| A933 | River from urine of goddess (giantess).—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Herrmann Nordische Mythologie 368, Boberg; French: Sébillot France II 327ff.; Sudanese: Frobenius Atlantis VI 219; India: Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 15 No. 7. |
| A933.1 | River from the slaver of the Fenris-wolf. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 328; cf. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A933.2 | River from vagina of first woman. S. A. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359. |
| A934 | Various origins of rivers. |
| A934.1 | Rivers from digging of primeval ox. (Cf. A920.1.2.)—Kirghis: Holmberg Siberian 331. |
| A934.2 | Rivers formed where certain stones are placed. Each of seven children are to go in a different direction, to walk a mile and put down a stone, then another mile and a stone, etc. Thus rivers are formed.—Ekoi: Talbot 366. |
| A934.3 | Rivers burst forth to commemorate birth, death, battle, etc., of primitive hero. (Cf. A901, A920.1.4.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| A934.4 | Rivers where god drags his staff. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A934.5 | Rivers originate through saint's prayer during drought. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A934.6 | Hail-storm leaves twelve chief rivers in Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A934.7 | River bursts from well in pursuit. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A934.8 | Rivers from mythical well. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 330, 333. |
| A934.9 | Stream unexpectedly bursts from side of mountain. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A934.10 | Origin of river: from a girl drowned in a well. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A934.11 | River from transformation. |
| A934.11.1 | Girl reincarnated as river so god Vishnu can lie in its bed in the form of a stone. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A934.11.2 | Person transforms self to river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A934.11.3 | Goddess in anger breaks herself into five parts: hence, five branches of a river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A934.11.4 | Origin of river: transformed flowing honey. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A934.12 | Peacock shows rivers the way to the big valley so they will not go round and round. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A935 | Origin of falls (cataracts). Irish myth: Cross.—Malecite: Speck JAFL XXX 480; S. A. Indian (Chibcha): Kroeber BBAE CXLIII (2) 908; African (Upoto): Einstein 135. |
| A937 | Why there is no mist on a certain river: fanned away with a pair of eagle's wings. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A938 | Rivers and streams offspring of marriage of Ocean and his sister. Greek: Grote I 6. |
| A940 | Origin of other bodies of water. |
| A941 | Origin of springs. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.—Japanese: Ikeda; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 114 No. 69; S. A. Indian (Amuesa): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 131. |
| A941.0.1 | Origin of a particular spring. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A941.1 | Springs originate from horse's hoof-prints. (Cf. A901.)—Malten Jahrb. d. kaiserlichen deutschen archäologischen Inst. XXIX 185.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 134, 328, Herrmann Saxo II 216; Greek: Fox 40, 213; Hungarian: Ipolyi Zs. f. deutsche Mythologie u. Sittenkunde II 273; German: Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens s.v. "Brunnen"; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A941.1.1 | Spring from urine of horse. (Cf. A920.1.6., A933.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.1.2 | Spring breaks forth where fairy horse lies down. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.2 | Springs originate from tears. (Cf. A901, A911.)—Greek: Fox 41; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A941.3 | Spring from striking earth with sword. Sébillot France II 181ff.; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 114 No. 69. |
| A941.3.1 | Spring breaks forth where magic spear strikes ground. (Cf. A941.5.1.). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.3.2 | Spring where god throws his staff or spear. Oceanic: Beckwith Myth 64ff. |
| A941.4 | Spring breaks forth to commemorate experiences of hero (deity). (Cf. A901, A913.1, A920.1.4.) |
| A941.4.1 | Spring breaks forth to commemorate place of death or burial. Irish myth: Cross; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 188. |
| A941.4.2 | Spring breaks forth at primitive hero's need. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.4.2.1 | Spring breaks forth at need of demigod's warriors. Icel.: Herrmann Saxo II 216, MacCulloch Eddic 134, Boberg. |
| A941.5 | Spring breaks forth through power of saint. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A941.5.0.1 | Fountain breaks forth through power of Virgin Mary. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.5.0.2 | Wells break forth at birth of Christ. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.5.1 | Spring breaks forth where saint smites rock. (Cf. A941.3.1.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.5.2 | Many-colored fountain breaks forth where saint strikes earth with his foot. |
| A941.5.3 | Spring breaks forth through power of saint at place where leper pulls out clump of rushes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.5.4 | Spring breaks forth where animal delivers book left behind by saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.5.5 | Spring breaks forth where saint's stolen cow is found. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A941.5.6 | Cloth from goddess, when spread by holy man over a spot, causes water to spring from earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A941.5.7 | Origin of springs where deity dug. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 212. |
| A941.5.8 | Spring from innocent king's blood. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A941.6 | Breaking forth of springs partial cause of Flood. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A941.7 | Springs from beneath magic (holy) object. |
| A941.7.1 | Spring from beneath world-tree. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 330-333; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A941.7.2 | Spring from roots of sacred tree when arrow is shot into it. Fiji: Beckwith Myth 317. |
| A941.7.3 | Stream from under holy of holies in temple. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A942 | Origin of hot springs (geysers). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A942.1 | Hot springs rise where Christ bathed his feet. (Cf. A901.)—Dh II 68. |
| A942.2 | Origin of salt springs. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 326. |
| A950 | Origin of the land. Chinese: Graham; Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 47. |
| A951 | Contours of land caused by plowing of goddess. (Cf. A901.)—*Olrik in Danske Studier (1910) 1ff.; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 181; Danish: De la Saussaye 280. |
| A951.1 | River valley licked out by giant beast. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A951.2 | Contours of land caused by rooting of swine. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A951.3 | Contours of land caused by occult hero driving harrow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A952 | Land rises out of sea. Tuamotu: Beckwith Myth 75. |
| A953 | Land thrown down from heaven. Tonga: Gifford 15. |
| A954 | Land born from goddess. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 302. |
| A955 | Origin of islands. |
| A955.0.1 | Islands created by order of deity. Marquesas: Handy 122f.; Marshall Is.: Davenport 221. |
| A955.1 | Islands as deity's stepping-stones. (Cf. A901.)—Greek: Fox 250. |
| A955.2 | Island created by shooting arrow. (Cf. D936, D1092.)—Greek: Pauly-Wissowa s.v. "Anaphe" 2060, Apollonius Rhodius IV 1709ff. |
| A955.3 | Origin of island's shape and position. |
| A955.3.1 | Origin of an island's shape. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A955.3.2 | Origin of island's position. Mono-Alu, Farau: Wheeler 70. |
| A955.3.2.1 | Primeval hero moves islands into their present position. *Frazer Pausanias II 48.—Japanese: Anesaki 248ff., Ikeda; Marshall Is.: Davenport 222. |
| A955.4 | Island plowed out by goddess. (See A951.). |
| A955.5 | Islands from cow and calf transformed by evil eye of one-eyed god. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A955.6 | Islands from stones cast by giantess. (Cf. A901, A963.5.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| A955.7 | Islands from webs woven by primeval spiders. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A955.8 | Island fished-up by demigod (hero). Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 61, 227, 308; Tonga: Beckwith Myth 369, Gifford 15, 20; Maori: Clark 48ff.; Marquesas: Handy 103; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (x-G. 13/52). |
| A955.9 | Goddess gives birth to islands. Tonga: Gifford 102. |
| A955.10 | Islands from transformed object or person. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 347; Tahiti: Henry 129, 346; Marshall Is.: Davenport 222; Tonga: Gifford 24, 68, 179; Marquesas: Handy 44. |
| A955.11 | Islands originally form continent, later separated. Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 468; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 216f., 230, 328; Marquesas: Handy 112; Tonga: Gifford 81; Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 389. |
| A955.12 | Old woman as guardian of floating islands of the gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 68. |
| A956 | Origin of peninsulas. Greek: Aeschylus Suppliants line 542.—Tonga: Gifford 68. |
| A957 | Origin of desert. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A960 | Creation of mountains (hills). Norwegian: Solheim Register 22; Persian: Carnoy; Chinese: Graham; Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 47. |
| A961 | Mountains from primeval animal. |
| A961.1 | Hills from flapping of primeval bird. Hills and valleys are formed from the flapping of a giant turkey-buzzard when the earth is still plastic.—Yuchi: Alexander N. Am. 62. |
| A961.2 | Mountains from hacked-up fish drawn from bottom of primeval water. Earth originates from a fish drawn from the water. It is hacked up and thus made to form mountains.—Maori: Dixon 43. |
| A961.3 | Mountain from accident to primeval lizard. Lizard passing through a mountain is broken; his fore and hinder parts become mountains.—Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 215. |
| A961.4 | Mountains spring from scattered parts of slain giant serpent's body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A961.5 | Mountains (cliffs) from bones of killed giant. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A962 | Mountains (hills) from ancient activities of god (hero). |
| A962.1 | Mountain from part of deity's (hero's) body. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 170 (bones), 188f.; Maori: Beckwith Myth 379 (navel); Tahiti: Henry 339 (ribs, spine). |
| A962.2 | Mountains made with God's hand. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A962.3 | Mountains from primeval journeys of a god. (Cf. A901.)—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 332. |
| A962.4 | Mountains pressed together by God. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 4 No. 4, XXXIII 51 No. 4. |
| A962.5 | Mountains made with the hand. Jewish: Moreno Esdras. |
| A962.6 | Mountains originated from primeval journeys of the first man. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 14. |
| A962.7 | Hills from hero's striking (earth) with sword. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A962.8 | Origin of hills and ridges: pieces of shattered god's head. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A962.9 | Mountains and hills are former sons, daughters of gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A962.10 | Hills represent loads from culture-hero's shoulders. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A963 | Mountains from stones (soil, sand) dropped or thrown. |
| A963.1 | Mountains from stones dropped from giant's clothes. He carries the stones in his clothes but loses them as he walks.—German: Grimm Deutsche Mythologie I 443; Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 1043; French: Sébillot France IV 7ff.; Swedish: Wessman 68 Nos. 581-3.—Indonesian: L. de Backer L'archipel indien 232ff. |
| A963.2 | Mountains from breaking of God's sieve. He is sifting stones and the bottom of the sieve breaks, letting huge stones and mountains fall through. (Cf. A971.) —Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 4 No. 5; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 34 No. 1. |
| A963.3 | Soil dropped to form mountains. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 59. |
| A963.4 | Mountains and hills from stones thrown by giant at church. Germanic: Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens s.v. "Findlingssteine"; Celtic: Thurneysen Irische Helden- und Königssage 431; Danish: Schmidt Danmarks Kaempesten (1932) (DF XXXIX) 66ff.; Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 19ff., (1931) 11ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 493-96; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 68 Nos. 586-591. |
| A963.5 | Hills from stones cast by giants. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A963.6 | Hill from anvil (cast by supernatural smith). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A963.7 | Hill from sand left by passersby.—Lithuanian: Balys Historical. |
| A963.8 | Hill as unfinished tower built in the likeness of Nimrod's tower. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A963.9 | Clay soil dropped from sky to form hill. Tonga: Gifford 39. |
| A964 | Mountains (hills) from ancient contest (fight). |
| A964.1 | Holes in hills result of fight between gods. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A964.2 | Mountains fight each other: cause of their present shape. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A964.2.1 | Mountains fight each other for honor of being the spot for the revelation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A964.3 | Battle of demons: hills torn up. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A965 | Origin of mountain chain. |
| A965.1 | One mountain in love with another stretches leg out to meet her: origin of a mountain chain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A966 | Origin of volcanoes. Maori: Clark 43. |
| A967 | Origin of mounds. Tonga: Gifford 121. |
| A967.1 | Mounds from horns cast by cattle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A968 | Origin of cliffs. |
| A968.1 | Cliffs become hard. Were formerly soft but become hard by God's order. (Cf. A975.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 3 No. 3; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 139 No. 2. |
| A968.2 | Cliff from lovers' leap. Lovers in despair throw themselves from a high place. This becomes a cliff.—*Crane Vitry 220f. No. 214; Ward Cat. Romances III 17; U.S.: Baughman.—Common among the North American Indians. |
| A969 | Creation of mountains and hills—miscellaneous. |
| A969.1 | Mountain from buried giant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A969.2 | Cloud on lofty male mountain induced by a beautiful female mountain to bow to her feet: hence their present shape. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A969.3 | Mountains and valleys formed from great fire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A969.4 | Hills because sky asked earth to wrinkle up its feet. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A969.5 | Water freezes and forms mountains. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 482. |
| A969.6 | Hill brought to country as adopted child. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 379. |
| A969.7 | Origin of mountains as punishment. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A969.8 | Origin of crevasse. Africa (Bushongo): Torday 251. |
| A969.9 | Mountain or hills from actions of the devil. England: *Baughman. |
| A970 | Origin of rocks and stones. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325f.; Jewish: Neuman.—Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 47. |
| A971 | Origin of rocks from breaking of God's sieve. See references in A963.2. |
| A972 | Indentions on rocks from prints left by man (beast). (Cf. A901.)—*Fb "sten" III 552b; *Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 96; Dh II 8.—Irish: Thurneysen Irische Helden-u. Königssagen 189, Cross; Icel.: Boberg; Danish: Schmidt DF XXXIX 13ff.; French: Sébillot France I 369ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian: Krickeberg Indianermärchen aus Nordamerika 245, Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 59; Aztec: Krickeberg Märchen der Azteken 60, 204, and passim; S. Am. Indian (Tupinamba): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 132. |
| A972.1 | Indentions on rocks from imprint of gods and saints. *Toldo Studien zur vgl. Literaturgeschichte V 337ff.; Andree Ethnographische Parallelen (1878) 95.—Irish myth: *Cross; Eng., Scot., Ire., Wales, U.S.: *Baughman; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 977; Greek: *Grote I 180.—Hawaii Beckwith Myth 65, 142, 212f.; S. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 281. |
| A972.1.1 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of Christ. Dh II 199.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Kirialaxsaga 66. |
| A972.1.2 | Priest stamps on stone to prove truth of pope; print is still visible. England: Baughman. |
| A972.1.3 | Footprints of holy man are still seen in stone where he stood to preach. England: Baughman. |
| A972.2 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of fairies (angels, devils). Jegerlehner Oberwallis 303 Nos. 22, 23.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 500ff. |
| A972.2.1 | Indention on rock from footprint of angel. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A972.2.2 | The devil's footprint. Eng., Wales, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| A972.3 | Holes in stones caused by piercing by saint's finger. Irish: Plummer Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae clvi. |
| A972.3.1 | Holes in stone caused by saint (warrior). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.3.1.1 | Indentions on rock from weapons (limbs) of robbers through power of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.3.1.2 | Indentions on rocks from footprints of saint's cow. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.4 | Imprint of horse in rocks.—French: Sébillot France I 383ff.; Danish: Thiele Danmarks Folkesagn I 209, II 47, Schmidt DF XXXIX 22-23; German: Þiðriks saga I 157, 220.—India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| A972.5 | Indentions on rocks from marks of various persons. |
| A972.5.1 | Indentions on rocks from head of infant hero (saint). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.5.2 | Chasms between rocks mark "leaps" of giants, heroes, etc. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.5.3 | Indentions on rock from paws of King Arthur's dog. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.5.4 | Indentions on rocks from weapons, knees, and elbows (of persons slain by hero). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.5.5 | Rocks or hill-tops flat because persons (gods) slept or cooked on them. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.5.6 | Hole in stone caused by weapon of warrior. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.6 | Indentions on rocks caused by giants. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A972.7 | Great fish killed by hero and cut into sixteen pieces: the great stones may still be seen. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A973 | Origin of stones: punishment for discourtesy. Jesus asks a man what he is sowing. He answers, "Stones." Jesus turns the crop to stones. This is how stones originate.—*Dh II 95.—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 140 No. 4; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 80 No. 2, England: Baughman. |
| A974 | Rocks from transformation of people to stone. Greek: Fox 175; Icel.: Boberg.—Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 175; Marshall Is.: Davenport 229; Tonga: Gifford 99, 130; Marquesas: Handy 106; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo: Boas RBAE VI 639; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 97. |
| A974.1 | Certain stones are druids transformed by power of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A974.2 | Certain stones are transformed giants. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A975 | Why stones became hard. By God's order. (Cf. A968.1.)—Schmidt DF XXXIX 36; von Sydow Folkeminder och Folktankar VI 73; Fb "Adam" IV 3a.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 3 No. 3; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 139 Nr. 2; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 80 Nos. 3, 4.—Oceanic: Beckwith Myth 88. |
| A975.1 | Why stones no longer grow. Devil sows stones; God sends cold to prevent their growing. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3015, Legends Nos. 16f. |
| A975.1.1 | Why stones no longer grow: punishment for injuring foot of holy person. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3015. Legends Nos. 19, 25. |
| A975.2 | Why certain rock produces fire when struck with steel. |
| A975.2.1 | Fire producing rock result of contest between god of fire and god of rain. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A976 | Why rocks at river are covered with moss. Jamaica Negro: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 259 No. 49. |
| A977 | Origin of particular stones or groups of stones. |
| A977.1 | Giant responsible for certain stones. (Cf. A963.1.)—Canada, England, U.S., Wales: *Baughman; Icel.: Boberg. |
| A977.2 | Devil throws stones. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| A977.2.1 | Devil and man throw stones in contest. England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| A977.2.2 | The devil throws stones at church or churchmen. (Cf. A963.4.) —England: *Baughman. |
| A977.2.3 | Devil throws down quoits when he is told that it is wrong to play on Sunday. They remain as stones to this day.—England: Baughman. |
| A977.3 | Devil drops stones. England: *Baughman. |
| A977.3.1 | The devil drops stones from apron. (Cf. A963.1.)—England, Ireland: *Baughman. |
| A977.4 | The devil turns object or animal to stone which is still seen. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| A977.5 | Origin of particular rock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A977.5.1 | Certain stones are cheeses transformed by saint. (Cf. A974.) —Irish myth: Cross. |
| A977.5.2 | Pile of stones in certain chapel formed of fragments of salmon transformed by saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A977.5.3 | Stone column is membrum virile of ancient hero. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A977.5.4 | Two rocks from split and transformed lapdog. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A978 | Origin of minerals. |
| A978.1 | Origin of minerals from body of dead culture hero. Persian: Carnoy 294. |
| A978.2 | Iron created to punish cedar's pride. Jewish: Neuman. |
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