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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| M391.2 | Wandering skull fulfills prophecy. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| E261.1 | Wandering skull pursues man. *Brown The Wandering Skull (Am. Journ. Philology XI 423ff.); Indonesian: DeVries Volksverhalen I 299; N. A. Indian (Zuсi): Benedict 342. |
| E721.5.1 | Wandering soul assumes shape of wolf. (Cf. D113.1.1, E731.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| E721.5 | Wandering soul assumes various shapes. Fb "sjæl" III 214a. |
| E721.3 | Wandering soul cause of sickness. Frazer Golden Bough III 53ff.; Finnish: Holmberg Finno-Ugric 6; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 473f.; N. A. Indian: *Hultkrantz 448—463. |
| E721.4 | Wandering soul detained by ghosts. Frazer Golden Bough III 52ff. |
| D1663.1 | Wands of life and death. Pointed with one end, kill; with the other, resuscitate. (Cf. D1254.1, D1402.10.) MacCulloch Childhood 205; N. A. Indian (Bella Coola): Boas JE I 54, (Chilcotin): Farrand JE II 44 No. 30. |
| K2052.4.2 | Wanted: a husband to manage estate. Widow who claims to abhor intimacy rejects a eunuch with business qualifications. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| J1888 | Wants the organ to come and play for her. An old woman enraptured with the sound of a cathedral organ prays for it to come to her house and gives it directions as to where she lives. Bolte Frey 235 No. 54. |
| B263.5.1 | War between birds and eagle. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B263.4 | War between birds and reptiles. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B263.3 | War between crows and owls.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Hindu: Penzer V 98—113.—Panchatantra III intr. (tr. Ryder) 291ff; Bødker Exempler 293 No. 52. |
| B262 | War between domestic and wild animals. *Type 104; *BP I 425.—Japanese: Ikeda. |
| B263.2 | War between elephants and ants. Indonesian: De Vries's list No. 132. |
| F364.3 | War between fairies and giants. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F364 | War between fairies and mortals. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F277.0.1 | War between fairy settlements. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B263.5 | War between groups of birds. Irish myth: Cross. |
| B263.8 | War between lion and other animals. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B263 | War between other groups of animals. |
| B263.7 | War between serpents and storks. Jewish: Neuman. |
| B263.1 | War between toads and frogs. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "crapauds". |
| C936 | War lost because of breaking tabu. Greek: *Grote II 130. |
| B261 | War of birds and quadrupeds. *Type 222; BP II 435 (Gr. No. 102); *Dh III 3ff., 226, IV 197ff.—Crane Vitry No. 153; Scala Celi No. 417. Japanese: Ikeda. —Africa: Frobenius Atlantis VIII 253, IX 115, XI 128. |
| B263.6 | War of monkeys and grasshoppers. Chinese: Graham. |
| F535.5.1 | War of pygmies and cranes. Greek: *Frazer Pausanias II 107; *Fb "trane" III 835b. |
| Z132 | War personified. (Cf. A485.1.) Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| Q434.2 | War prisoners fettered. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| Q433.13 | War prisoners shut up between stones. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| A739.2 | War with the sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B268.2.1 | War-dogs. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| B268.3 | War-elephants. Icel.: *Boberg. |
| P552.4 | War-machines. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q305 | War-making punished. (Cf. Q553.3.1.) Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| J1945 | Warming hands across the river. Numskull stretches out his hands toward the fire across the river. Clouston Noodles 68. |
| J1873.3 | Warming the stove with wool. Type 1271A*. |
| B143.1.1 | Warning crow. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| D1810.8.3.1 | Warning in dream fulfilled. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1810.8.3 | Warning in dreams. Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B143.1.3 | Warning parrot. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| B143.1.2 | Warning peacock. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J652.4 | Warnings against certain peoples. |
| K1969.2 | Warrior buries oversized armor so as to convince posterity of soldiers' gigantic size. Addison-Steele Spectator No. 127. |
| A308 | Warrior chieftain of underworld. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/203). |
| K2378.2 | Warrior consents to flee for the sake of future victory. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K1845.1 | Warrior deceived into attacking substituted pillar-stone. Stone bears enemy's dress (crown). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| P557.6 | Warrior dies with face toward foe. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P557.5 | Warrior disgraced by slaying of those under his protection. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P557.4.4.1 | Warrior engaged in combat with one-armed opponent allows one hand to be bound to his side. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K2116.5 | Warrior falsely accused of having killed his sleeping adversary. Not supposed to have been able to do it if latter was awake. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| W11.5.9 | Warrior gives steed to his enemy. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| J875 | Warrior having lost a city claims that he did not wish to sell it for a higher price. Wesselski Bebel I 118 No. 1. |
| P557.1 | Warrior not entitled to ransom if captured without arms. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F610.3 | Warrior of special strength (Berserk). (Cf. F1041.8.6.) Hdwb. d. March. I "Bärenhäuter"; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K2319.2 | Warrior proposes to fight in single combat. Fights with aid of sons and grandsons. They belong to him. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| W33.2 | Warrior refuses to delay battle in return for promise of long, happy life. Irish myth: Cross. |
| Q520.6 | Warrior retires to a cloister which he later defends against robbers. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| J2366 | Warrior reveals camping place. Wishes his enemies to know that he is not afraid. Enemies go there before him. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F834.7 | Warrior seeks combat when his spear consents. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (Z-G. 13/48). |
| P557.4.2 | Warrior who begins combat has right to desist. Irish myth: Cross. |
| P251.2 | Warrior will not fight where his brother was slain. Place considered defiled. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D2107 | Warrior's equipment magically furnished. |
| H1561.8 | Warriors battle against leader as test of valor. Irish myth: Cross. |
| W212.2 | Warriors contend with each other until battle starts. When they agree to engage in battle, they cannot endure to be without combat. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N657 | Warriors discover in the last moment that it is their own chief they are about to murder by burning. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N349.1 | Warriors erroneously slay allies in night battle. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| R75.2.1 | Warriors flee after chief's death. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| H945.1 | Warriors go towards strong enemy as consequence of own boast. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| Z210.0.1 | Warriors identically equipped (brothers). Irish myth: Cross. |
| R75.2 | Warriors surrender after chief's death. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F1084.2 | Warriors use teeth after they exhaust weapons. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K1839.6 | Warriors whitewash weapons thus disguising identity of one of their number who bears white-handled battle-axe. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| A2432.7 | Wart-hog's burrow. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 364 No. 16. |
| J1395 | Was going to give it to him any way. Thus a hunter answers a thief who steals his hare. Wienert FFC LVI 84 (ET 504), 125 (ST 337); Halm Aesop No. 163. |
| J1743.3 | Wash Bee Day. Woman misinterprets calendar notation "February 22, Wash. B'day." Washes their bee-hives. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 697. |
| J1312.2 | Washed in the Rhine. Server of diluted Rhine wine thus taunted. Wesselski Bebel II 108 No. 29. |
| U129.3 | Washerman as minister thinks of washing and fails the king. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| R131.8.3 | Washerman rescues abandoned child. Palaung tribe: Scott Indo-Chinese 277. |
| D1812.5.1.1.6 | Washers at the ford. Appearance of female figure washing bloody armor, chariot cushions, or human limb (at ford) as sign of coming disaster in battle. (Cf. A485.1, E761.1, M301.6.1, Z129.2.2.) Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1349.2.2 | Washing in magic bowl produces immunity from old age. (Cf. D1172.2.)—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| J1149.11 | Washing test: defendants given basin of water. Guilty one wastes it uselessly. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J2465.4 | Washing the child. Fool uses boiling water and kills it. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 212 No. 431. |
| K1462 | Washing the grandmother—in boiling water. *Type 1013; Spanish: Espinosa III Nos. 181—8; India: *Thompson-Balys; New Britain: Dixon 122. |
| J2465.6 | Washing the room. Fool floods it. Norwegian: Christiansen Norske Eventyr 142. |
| B376 | Wasp released from vase full of honey: grateful. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| W116.5 | Wasp seeking fame stings courtiers: killed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J312.1 | Wasp twits butterfly with coming from ugly chrysalis: unimportant where you come from. Wienert FFC LVI 43 (ET 14), 144 (ST 497). |
| X1755.1 | Watch continues to run indefinitely when lost (swallowed). Canada, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| H1471 | Watch for devastating monster. Youngest alone successful. *Types 301, 550; BP I 503, *514; MacCulloch Childhood 350; *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 207b; Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 148f., *Cross; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 334ff. |
| H1471.1 | Watch for thieves in the king's garden. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| J1781.2 | Watch mistaken for the devil's eye. Knocked to pieces. Type 1321*; Christensen DF XLVII 187; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1679*. |
| K318 | Watchdog enticed away. Trickster brings rabbit under his coat. When the king's watchdog gives chase the trickster enters and robs. DeVries FFC LXXIII 208f. |
| K1451 | Watching the goats: "Hit them if they wander." Trickster kills them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A165.4 | Watchman of the gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 152 (Heimdall), 276, 303, 313, 331 (Cock), 328 (Thor), 329 (Heimdall).—Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 221. |
| K623 | Watchman outwitted by having rope stretched across the road while fugitives escape. Bolte Frey 251 No. 90. |
| D1335.2.2 | Water as magic strengthening drink. (Cf. D1242.2.) *MacCulloch Childhood 70ff.—Irish myth: Cross. |
| F141 | Water barrier to otherworld. Wimberly 110.—Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D471.10 | Water becomes rocks. (Cf. D478). Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1551.0.1 | Water becomes shallow so man is able to cross the river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K1042 | Water bird takes dupe to sea: shakes him off into water. *Type 226; *Fb "and" IV 12b; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 69, Dixon 193 *n. 20. |
| D1355.2.1 | Water blessed by saint as love-philtre. (Cf. D1242.1.)—Irish: Plummer clxxxviii, *Cross. |
| F1041.16.6.6 | Water boils when angry warrior is immersed in it. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G11.5 | Water cannibal. Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 104; N. A. Indian (Cherokee): Alexander N. Am. 68. |
| D478.8 | Water changed into balsam. *Loomis White Magic 78. |
| D478 | Water changed to other substance (or vice versa). |
| F930.6 | Water chants song. (Cf. D1614.4, F931.12.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D475.4.8 | Water dripping off person becomes agates. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 43, 55. |
| F531.3.1.1 | Water enters into giant's boots from above. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 66 No. 571; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 62; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 128 No. 62. |
| F93 | Water entrance to lower world. Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| F212.0.1 | Water fairies. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| F311.3.1 | Water fairy as foster-mother. Africa: Weeks Jungle 407. |
| F321.1.5 | Water fairy changeling kept out of water too long, dies. U.S.: Baughman. |
| D1472.1.35 | Water flows from axe. (Cf. D1206.) Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 91. |
| A969.5 | Water freezes and forms mountains. Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 482. |
| D1500.1.18.5 | Water from bullaun (hollowed-out stone) as remedy. (Cf. D931.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1402.24 | Water from magic fountain kills. (Cf. D925.) |
| D1415.1 | Water from magic well causes person to dance. (Cf. D926, D1353.1.) Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 54. |
| D1500.1.18.1.2 | Water from saint's washing as remedy. Loomis White Magic 104; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1337.1.2 | Water gives magic beauty. (Cf. D1242.1.)—Fb "livets vand" II 439b.—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1432.1 | Water gradually envelops girl filling pitcher and drowns her. Work of malevolent rice-spirit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D478.9 | Water in river transformed to copper by magician. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| E84 | Water of death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E82 | Water of life and death. One water kills, the other restores to life. *BP III 31 n. 1; Greek: Fox 281 (blood of life and death); India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 355 n. 279b. |
| D1346.1.1 | Water of life destroyed to prevent immortality: too long life would become tiresome. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| E80 | Water of Life. Resuscitation by water. Types 550, 551; *BP I 513, II 400; **Wünsche Lebensbaum; Chauvin VI 73f.; Hertz Abhandlungen 47ff.; *Fb "vand" III 1001b, "livets vand" II 439b, "flaske" I 309a; Dawkins Alexander and the Water of Life (Medium Aevum IX 173—192); Jacobs' list s.v. "Water of Life"; Köhler-Bolte I 186, 562.—Icelandic: Hrуlfssaga Gautrekssonar (ed. Detter) 46, 64; Russian: Ralston Russian Folk-Tales (London 1873) 231ff.; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Babylonian: Spence 130 (Ishtar); India: *Thompson-Balys, Penzer X 210 s.v. "Life, water of"; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 347; Arabian: Burton Nights S VI 213ff., 221; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 494; Indonesian: DeVries Volksverhalen II 359 No. 104; Pelew Islands: Dixon 252; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 74, 121, 153, 264; Fiji: ibid. 76; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 355 n. 279a; (Calif. Indian): Gayton and Newman 64; Africa (Bushman): Bleek and Lloyd 27, 67, 137. |
| X1130.3 | Water of stream or lake freezes just as frogs jump into lake. The frogs are caught in the ice. Canada, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D1338.1.2 | Water of youth. (Cf. D1242.1.)—Type 551; *BP II 394ff.; *Wünsche Die Sagen vom Lebensbaum und Lebenswasser (Leipzig, 1905); *Dh II 154; *Chauvin VI 73f. Nos. 239, 202. |
| X1545.1 | Water passage through the earth. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D1567.3 | Water poured from saint's bell produces fountain. (Cf. D1242.1.) Irish: Plummer cl. |
| D1317.22 | Water rages by boat of would-be murderer. (Cf. D1242.) Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 317, 321, III 300, Holm 45, Rink 147. |
| D2151.5.1.1 | Water raised from tank by burying ring in it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D2151.5.1 | Water raised from tank by singing. (Cf. D1781.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F710.1 | Water resembling fire. Jewish: Neuman; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 14. |
| F930.3 | Water sinks to bottom, mud rises to surface to keep prophet from drowning. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| B551.4 | Water snake carries boy across river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K476.3 | Water sold as wine. Wine-casks partitioned: one half wine, other half water. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| H71.10.2 | Water stands still before prince. De Vries FFC LXXIII 329. |
| F930.5 | Water stops flowing when no longer needed. Jewish: Neuman. |
| E431.2 | Water thrown on corpse to prevent return. *Fb "død" I 228a, "gjenganger" I 444a. |
| D1647.1 | Water vanishes from water hole when man tries to drink. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 180. |
| D1500.1.18.1.1 | Water which had contact with the tombs of holy men proved curative. *Loomis White Magic. 104. |
| A2442.2.6 | Water-birds' flight and diving. Dh III 224ff. |
| A1063 | Water-disturbances at end of world. |
| F420.1.4.9 | Water-giants. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.1.4 | Water-goddess allows body of drowning person to come up three times. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A420.1 | Water-goddess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D928.1 | Water-hole made by magic. Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen I 180; Southern Paiute (Maopa): Lowie JAFL XXXVII 168 No. 5a. |
| F420.5.2.1.1 | Water-maiden enamors man and draws him under water. (Cf. F302.3.4, G264.) U.S.: Baughman; German: *Wehrhan 74, Nies 118 No. 86, Plöckinger 39 No. 31; Icelandic: Boberg; French: Sébillot France II 197, 342, 348, 411; Greek: Fox 110 (Hylas); India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.6.1.4 | Water-maiden goes to home of mortal and marries. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.6.2.3 | Water-maiden is wooed by dwarf. (Cf. F451.5.18.) German: Schöppner I 480 No. 467. |
| F420.6.2.2 | Water-maiden marries giant. (Cf. F531.5.7.) German: Förstner Märchenwelt 111. |
| F420.1.2.1 | Water-maidens are of unusual beauty. German: Ebermann Elbsagen 115 (No. 66), Meier I 67 (No. 1); French: Sébillot France II 196, 345; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.6.5 | Water-maidens avenge selves for scorned love. German: Nies 118 No. 86. |
| F420.3.2.1.1 | Water-maidens dance at village fair. German: Janosch 9, Schöppner I 277 No. 235. |
| F420.1.6.5 | Water-maidens have long veil. German: Richter III 236 No. 32, Schnetzler 292. |
| F420.6.1.5 | Water-maidens make conditions for lovers. German: Kurs 322; French: Sébillot France II 409; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.1.2.2 | Water-maidens mute. *Krappe Bulletin Hispanique XXXV 107ff. |
| F420.3.2.6 | Water-maidens spin. German: Baader 100 No. 133, Lohre 50 No. 85. |
| F420.3.2.7 | Water-man cuts osier to make wicker basket. German: Kern 85 No. 11; Austrian: Calliano 107. |
| F420.4.6 | Water-man is rendered powerless if kept away from water. German: Kratzer 90 No. 34; French: Sébillot France II 352. |
| F420.6.2.1 | Water-man marries fairy. German: Schnetzler 266 No. 6, Diezel 1. |
| F420.5.2.10 | Water-man sits on back of persons as heavy burden. German: Kern 89. |
| F420.6.1.1 | Water-man woos mortal girl. (Cf. F451.5.18.) England, Wales: Baughman; German: Pfister 53, Lohre 48 No. 80; India: *Thompson-Balys; S. A. Indian (Warrau): Kirchoff BBAE CXLIII (3) 880. |
| P443.0.1 | Water-miller. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K2314.2.1 | Water-monster allows saint to place cauldron over its head until Luan. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K1022.2.1 | Water-monster, trying to pull horse into water, is dragged to house where he begs for his life and is spared. Japanese: Ikeda. |
| G308.2 | Water-monster. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| B251.2.6.1 | Water-monsters lick saint's feet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| F420.1.1.2 | Water-spirit appears as black man. German: Knoop 89 (No. 145), Sommert 108. |
| F420.1.1.1 | Water-spirit appears as handsome man. German: Ebermann Elbsagen 93 (No. 55); French: Sébillot France II 409; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 57 No. 487. |
| F420.1.3.11 | Water-spirit as ape-like creature. Tobler 97. |
| F420.1.3.4 | Water-spirit as bull. England: Baughman; German: Weichert II 176 (No. 166), Pfeil 292; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.1.3.6 | Water-spirit as cat. Tobler 97. |
| F420.1.3.2 | Water-spirit as fish. Tobler 97; Icelandic: Boberg, German: Henne-Am Rhyn 113 (No. 216), Ebermann Elbsagen 74 (No. 39); French: Sébillot France II 196. |
| F420.1.3.10 | Water-spirit as frog. Tobler 97. |
| F420.1.3.7 | Water-spirit as goat. Tobler 97; French: Sébillot France II 347ff. |
| F420.1.3.3 | Water-spirit as horse. England, Scotland, Ireland: Baughman; Icelandic: Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn (1893) 163ff., (1928) 112ff.; Norwegian: Solheim Register 17; Swedish: Hartmann 27; German: Künzig Badische 31 (No. 87), Karstens Sagen 79. |
| F420.1.1.4 | Water-spirit as man clothed in white and accompanied by a dozen attendants. Chinese: Werner 182. |
| F420.1.1 | Water-spirit as man. Takelau (New Zealand): Beckwith Myth 150. |
| F420.1.3.8 | Water-spirit as mouse. Tobler 97. |
| F420.1.3.2.1 | Water-spirit as one-eyed fish. (Cf. F420.1.1.5.) Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 53. |
| F420.1.3.12 | Water-spirit as otter. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F420.1.1.3 | Water-spirit as small gray man. Has green eyes and gray hair. Tobler 99. |
| F420.1.3.9 | Water-spirit as snake. Tobler 97; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.1.3.5 | Water-spirit as stork. German: Lohre 48 (No. 81). |
| F420.1.3.1 | Water-spirit as toad. German: Künzig Schwarzwald. 170, Kühnau 38 (No. 55). |
| F420.1.2 | Water-spirit as woman (water-nymph, water-nix). (Cf. F423.1.) *Type 316; *BP III 322; *Fb "nøkke" II 725ab.—England, Ireland, Wales: Baughman, Ireland: Beal VII 11; Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 261; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 55 Nos. 468—469; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 44 No. 58; Germanic: Meyer Germanen 199ff., 202ff., De la Saussaye 323; Slavic: Máchal 254f., 271f.; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 126 No. 58; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 42 No. 30; Armenian: Ananikian 84; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F420.5.3.2 | Water-spirit calls human midwife. (Cf. F372.1, F451.3.5.5, F451.5.5.) German: Meier I 68 No. 2, Hessler 143. |
| F420.5.2.12 | Water-spirit causes illness and death. Africa (Bakuba): Einstein 164. |
| F420.5.2.1.6 | Water-spirit claims a life every seven years. England: *Baughman. |
| F420.4.9 | Water-spirit controls water-supply. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Shangang): Bourhill and Drake 78ff. No. 8. |
| F420.5.2.7.1 | Water-spirit crushes boat. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.3.6 | Water-spirit demands food from those it takes across stream. Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 267 No. 76. |
| F420.5.2.1.5 | Water-spirit drags children into river. England: *Baughman. |
| F420.5.3.4 | Water-spirit flees if holy name, ceremony, or blessed object is used. German: Ebermann Donausagen 120 No. 75, Janosch 13; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn (1893) 163ff., (1928) 114ff. |
| F420.5.1.7.5 | Water-spirit gives mortal fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.2.7.4 | Water-spirit holds ship back. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.3 | Water-spirit keeps souls of drowned persons in dishes in his home. German: Mailly Niederöst. 46 No. 101. |
| F420.6.1.2 | Water-spirit offers gift to mortal to win love. German: Pröhle Deutsche Sagen 213 No. 168, Henne-Am Rhyn 119 No. 347; S. A. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 686. |
| F420.5.2.2.1 | Water-spirit returns kidnapped man in return for release of his long hair. Victim's father has wound the hair around his fingers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.1.7.4 | Water-spirit returns to the woodchopper a silver axe in place of the one he has lost. Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 46 No. 65; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| F420.5.2.7.2 | Water-spirit shakes ship. Icelandic: Ketils saga H. 116, Gríms saga L. 145, örvar-Odds saga 42, *Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.8 | Water-spirit splashes passing people. Stöber 37 No. 53. |
| F420.6.1.7 | Water-spirit surprises and rapes a mortal woman. A son is born who is sleepless. Krappe Modern Language Review XXIV (1929) 200ff. |
| F420.5.2.7 | Water-spirit turns boat in circle. German: Heese 116. |
| F420.1.4.10 | Water-spirit with extraordinarily long hair. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.2.7.3 | Water-spirit wrecks ship. Icelandic: Lagerholm 164—65, *Boberg; S. A. Indian (Tiatinagua): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 447. |
| F420.5.1.9 | Water-spirits adopt human foundling. German: Schnetzler 264 No. 5. |
| F420.1.7 | Water-spirits appearing like human beings are recognized by traces of water. |
| F420.4.3 | Water-spirits are cannibals: devour mortal victim, suck blood. German: Meier I 70 No. 6, Lohre 51 No. 87. |
| F420.1.6.2 | Water-spirits are clad in clothes of gold and silver. German: Gradl 33 No. 69, Schnetzler 266 No. 6. |
| F420.1.6.6.2 | Water-spirits are clad in gray. (Cf. F236.1.4, F451.2.7.3.) German: Schnetzler 277 No. 10, Ebermann Donausagen 139 No. 85. |
| F420.1.6.6.1 | Water-spirits are clad in red. German: Dümke 51, Lohre 43 No. 73. |
| F420.1.6.6.5 | Water-spirits are dressed in blue. Icelandic: Lagerholm 166, Boberg. |
| F420.1.6.6.3 | Water-spirits are dressed in green. (Cf. F451.2.7.2.) Scotland: Baughman; Germanic: Calliano 162, Handrick 30; French: Sébillot France II 346. |
| F420.1.6.6.4 | Water-spirits are dressed in white. England: Baughman; Germanic: Kühne 164, Meier 67 No. 1; French: Sébillot France II 199—200. |
| F420.1.6.1 | Water-spirits are dressed like people of surroundings. German: Schultze 69, Künzig Schwarzwald 167; French: Sébillot France II 342. |
| F420.4.4 | Water-spirits are grateful. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn II (1893) 143ff., (1928) 101ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 58 Nos. 495—500; German: Pfister 50; Austrian: Calliano I 141. |
| F420.4.5 | Water-spirits are jealous. Paul 14. |
| F420.1.6.7 | Water-spirits are nude. (Cf. F238.) German: Meier I 74 No. 81, Kern 85 No. 11; Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 53; French: Sébillot France II 197. |
| F420.4.10 | Water-spirits are prophetic. (Cf. F420.5.1.1.) Dutch: Sinninghe FFC CXXXII 53 No. 31. |
| F420.1.4.3 | Water-spirits as dwarfs. (Cf. F451.) Austrian: Calliano I 141; German: Henninger 74; French: Sébillot France II 202, 347, 417. |
| F420.5.2.6.4 | Water-spirits avenge selves on mortal who fails to keep promise. German: Realis 163, Kurs 322; French: Sébillot France II 342. |
| F420.3.2.4 | Water-spirits bake. German: Meier I 75 No. 82. |
| F420.5.3.3 | Water-spirits call human godmother. (Cf. F451.5.6.) German: Künzig Schwarzwald 170, Meier II 69 No. 4. |
| F420.5.2.11 | Water-spirits cause blindness. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| F420.3.2.1 | Water-spirits dance. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.5.1.8 | Water-spirits give advice. Austrian: Calliano I 68. |
| F420.5.1.7 | Water-spirits give gifts to mortals. (Cf. F342, F451.5.1.5.) |
| F420.5.1.7.3 | Water-spirits give magic gifts. Austrian: Calliano 236, Huber and Zaural 106. |
| F420.5.1.7.1 | Water-spirits give money, gold, or precious stones. (Cf. F451.5.1.5.) German: Plöckinger 8, Kern 87 No. 11. |
| F420.1.4.2 | Water-spirits have body covered with fish scales. German: Mackensen Niedersächs 56 (No. 74), Ebermann Donausagen 113 (No. 70). |
| F420.3.1 | Water-spirits have family life under water. German: Schnetzler 289; French: Sébillot France II 346. |
| F420.2.3 | Water-spirits have garden. German: Henne-Am Rhyn 117. |
| F420.2.5 | Water-spirits have hearth made of three human skulls. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| F420.1.4.4 | Water-spirits have hunchback. (Cf. F451.2.1.4.) German: Plöckinger 87, Ebermann Donausagen 139 (No. 85); French: Sébillot France II 202. |
| F420.3.3 | Water-spirits have kingdom under water: queen, king, attendants, vassals. German: Schnetzler 277 No. 10; Czech: Gradl 22 No. 69; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 40 No. 23. |
| F420.3.4 | Water-spirits have laws. |
| F420.3.2 | Water-spirits have likings and occupations like human beings. |
| F420.1.1.5 | Water-spirits have one eye. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| F420.4.2 | Water-spirits have supernatural lapse of time: days seem like years. (Cf. F377.) |
| F420.4.8 | Water-spirits have treasures under water. German: Künzig Badische 48 No. 137, Stöber 87 No. 118; French: Sébillot France II 312, 410. |
| F420.5.1.3 | Water-spirits help lovers. Gradl 22 No. 46, Richter III 152 No. 5. |
| F420.5.1.2 | Water-spirits help poor. German: Schnetzler 273 No. 9, Haas Grimmen 36 No. 75. |
| F420.1.4 | Water-spirits in abnormal form. |
| F420.1.3 | Water-spirits in animal form. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 53 No. 445; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| F420.5.2.5 | Water-spirits interfere with building bridges, dams. (Cf. F451.5.2.5.) German: Kratzer 93 No. 36, Ebermann Elbsagen 117 No. 67. |
| F420.1.5 | Water-spirits invisible. |
| F420.5.2.2 | Water-spirits kidnap mortals and keep them under water. Irish: Beal VII 49; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 46 No. 60; German: Paul 46, Brüger 130; French: Sébillot France II 342, 409, 410; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 352; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 46ff. |
| F420.5.2.9 | Water-spirits lead travelers astray. German: Hartmann 35, Schnetzler 269 No. 8. |
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