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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 |
|---|---|
| A705.1.1 | Creator makes clouds from own vitals. Tahiti: Henry 339. |
| A705.1.2 | Clouds as tapa beaten out by woman in moon. Samoa: Clark 120. |
| A705.2 | Nature of clouds (covered with skin). (Cf. A702.9.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A710 | Creation of the sun. *Rühle Sonne und Mond im primitiven Mythus (Tübingen, 1925).—Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.—Indonesian: Dixon 177; Australian: ibid. 275; Navaho: Alexander N. Am. 166ff.; Hopi: ibid. 205; Quileute: Farrand JAFL XXXII 254f.; Sinkyone: Kroeber JAFL XXXII 346f.; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 205.—Inca: Alexander Lat. Am. 240; Africa (Luba): Donohugh Africa V 180. |
| A711 | Sun as man who left earth. Man, usually of supernatural birth, ascends to the sky and becomes the sun.—India: Thompson-Balys; Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 45; Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18; Ekoi: Talbot 357, 359; British New Guinea: Dixon 113; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-g 3/191); S. Am. Indian (Eastern Brazil): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 434, (Guarayú): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147, (Kaigua): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 138ff., (Manasi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 393, (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 122, 158—165, (Guaporé River): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 379. |
| A711.1 | Sun and moon as uncle and nephew who ascended to the sky. Tunja (Colombia): Alexander Lat. Am. 200. |
| A711.2 | Sun as a cannibal. India: Thompson-Balys; Crow: Lowie PaAM XV 157. |
| A711.3 | Originally a moon but no sun. Africa (Luba): Donohugh Africa V 180. |
| A711.4 | Originally no sun. Africa (Bushongo): Torday 247. |
| A712 | Sun as fire rekindled every morning. Australian: Dixon 274f. |
| A712.1 | Moon from light, sun from fire. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A713 | Sun and moon from cave. Haiti: Alexander Lat. Am. 28. |
| A713.1 | Sun and moon from belly of a fish. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A714 | Sun from object thrown into sky. Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 54; Pelew Is. (Micronesia): Dixon 253; Cook Group: ibid. 37; Admiralty Is., Woodlark Is.: ibid. 112; Australian: ibid. 275. |
| A714.1 | Sun and moon placed for eyes in the sky. Maori, Society Is., Samoa, Cook Group: Dixon 37. |
| A714.2 | Sun and moon placed in top of tree. Hero makes the sun and moon and fastens them to the top of the "World Tree" (cf. A652), but they give no light at first. —Finnish: Kalevala rune 49, cf. FFC LXXII 108. |
| A714.3 | Sun from fire flung into sky. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 421. |
| A714.4 | Sun and moon metal mirrors in sky. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 419; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A714.5 | Sun as grindstone full of fire. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A714.6 | Sun and moon as spangle which falls from creator's forehead into his own urine. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A714.7 | Sun and moon as eyes of Rama which he tore out after his brother's death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A714.8 | Wooden circles that were the sun and moon animated after human sacrifice of blood. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A715 | Sun born of first couple. Gilbert Is.: Dixon 254; Samoa: Beckwith Myth 254; S. Am. Indian (Tupinamba, Tembé, Apapocuva): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 123, (Jivaro): Stewart-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 627, (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, (Paressi): Métraux ibid. 359, (Viracocha): Stewart-Métraux ibid. 550. |
| A715.1 | Sun and moon born from a woman. *Fb "sol" III 457b. |
| A715.2 | Sun and moon born from a goddess impregnated by the wind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A715.3 | Sun and moon born from an ogre. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A715.4 | Sun and moon from breasts of mother earth. (Cf. A401.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A715.5 | Sun as offspring of moon. Babylonia: Spence 145. |
| A715.6 | Sun and moon born of lizard. S. Am. Indian (Amuesha): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 149. |
| A716 | Dispute at creation of sun. God and devil discuss creation. God plans two suns; devil persuades him to create only one.—Dh I 128ff.; cf. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 498. |
| A716.1 | Four suns at first: culture hero shoots three down.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 420. |
| A717 | Hero makes sun and moon from tree and sends them alternately into sky. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A717.1 | Hero makes sun and moon from tree and vivifies them with blood of creator's son. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A718 | Sun from transformation. |
| A718.1 | Sun from head of youth offered in sacrifice. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A718.2 | Sun and moon as divine bodies of gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 85. |
| A718.3 | Sun from fruit kernels thrown into water of flood. S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 683. |
| A718.4 | Sun from transformed maggots. Maori: Beckwith Myth 101. |
| A719 | Creation of sun—miscellaneous. |
| A719.1 | Sun emerges from lake. S. Am. Indian (Amyra): Tschopik BBAE CXLIII (2) 571. |
| A719.2 | After world catastrophe, new sun reappears and starts new epoch. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 154ff. |
| A719.3 | Sun created on fourth day of creation. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A720 | Nature and condition of the sun. Chinese: Graham. |
| A720.1 | Formerly seven suns. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A720.2 | Formerly great heat of sun causes distress to mankind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A721 | Sun kept in box. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 421. |
| A721.0.1 | Sun and moon kept in pots when they do not shine. S. Am. Indian (Bakairi, Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 313, (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 683. Cf. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 282 n. 45 (light kept in box or basket). |
| A721.0.2 | Sun shut up in pit. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A721.0.3 | Sun kept in a case. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A721.1 | Theft of sun. The sun, which is kept by a monster, is stolen and brought to earth.—BP III 288; Dh I 136ff., III 113ff.—Cf. Kaffir: Kidd 238 No. 7; Finnish: Kalevala runes 47, 49.—Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 483; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 60; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 683. |
| A721.2 | Sun swallowed and spit out. In theft of sun, the raven (or devil) thus succeeds.—Dh III 113ff. |
| A721.2.1 | Great darkness due to awk swallowing the sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A721.3 | Stolen sun restored to sky. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 83; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A721.4 | Pale sun made right again by using egg, yellow grass, etc. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A721.5 | Sun falls but is lifted back to sky and tied to it. S. Am. Indian: (Mocovi): Métraux MAFLS XXXX 34. |
| A722 | Sun's night journey. Around or under the earth.—Armenian: Ananikian 50; S. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 281. |
| A722.1 | Sun's night journey in golden goblet. Helios' chariot is conveyed eastward at night in a golden goblet (or bed).—Greek: Fox 243. Cf. A724. |
| A722.2 | Sun's night journey with reversed face. It returns from west to east by the same way that it came, but it turns its light side to the sky and leaves the earth in darkness.—Hindu: Keith 16. |
| A722.3 | Sun's night journey: in land of dead. Gaster Thespis 195; Egyptian: Müller 27, 84; Armenian: Ananikian 50; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A722.4 | Sun at night closes doors. In evening goes home and shuts doors and windows.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 357. |
| A722.5 | Sun at night lowers arm. The sun, a man, lies with arm uplifted. The shining comes from his armpits. When his arm is lowered the shining ceases.—Bushman: Bleek and Lloyd 45. |
| A722.5.1 | Sun bathes in stream of fire at night. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A722.5.2 | Sun led through stream to cool off heat at night; otherwise might consume earth. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A722.6 | Sun hidden at night because afraid to wander. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A722.7 | Mountain where sun goes through. Babylonian: Jensen Gilgamesch Epos IX 37. |
| A722.7.1 | Sun at night enters fissure between sky and earth. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A722.8 | Sun sits on back of a male buffalo. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A722.9 | At dawn sun comes to play with the moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A722.10 | Sun and moon to remain half their time in underworld. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A722.11 | Sun worships God by night. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A722.12 | Visible sun is the "pet" of real sun. S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 348. |
| A722.13 | Sun is man during day. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 33. |
| A723 | Boat of the sun. Egyptian: Müller 26; Icel.: cf. Du Chaillu The Viking Age 100ff., 107; Almgren Hällristningar och Kultbruk (Stockholm, 1926—27) passim. |
| A724 | Chariot of the sun. *Helm Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte I 178, 256; Cook Zeus I 205ff.—Greek: Fox 243, cf. A722.1., Grote I 313; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 198; Babylonian: Spence 236; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A724.1 | Charioteer of the sun. Sun drives his horses and chariot across sky.—Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 114ff.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 196; Greek: Fox 243; Hindu: Penzer I 143 n. 2, II 150ff. |
| A724.1.0.1 | Coyote rides with sun. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 85. |
| A724.1.1 | Phaëton. Sun entrusts his chariot to another (his son) and the horses run away. The world is almost burnt up.—Krappe "Phaëthon", The Review of Religion (1944) 115-129.—Greek: *Roscher s.v. "Phaëthon", *Frazer Pausanias II 59.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 291 n. 66. |
| A724.1.2 | Chariot of sun accompanied by angels. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A724.2 | The sun a golden bowl on the rim of which sits a peacock; both bowl and peacock are in a crystal box, which rests on a flying chariot.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A725 | Man controls rising and setting of sun. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A725.1 | Sun does not set for a year through power of saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A726 | Daily course of sun across sky. |
| A726.1 | Sun and moon make daily tour under direct orders of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A726.2 | Wings of sun. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A727 | Raising the sun. Originally low, it is raised little by little by conjurors. —Cherokee: Alexander N. Am. 60; Navaho: ibid. 167ff. |
| A727.1 | Sun originally so hot that it threatens all life. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A728 | Sun caught in snare. Luomala Oceanic, American Indian, and African Myths of Snaring the Sun (BMB No. 168 [Honolulu, 1940]); *Dh III 120ff.—India: Thompson-Balys; African: Frobenius Atlantis V 38, 70f., XII 160, 185f. |
| A728.1 | Sun-snarer: burnt mantle. A boy is angered because the sun burned his mantle. He makes a snare and catches the sun and delays him so that everything is burning up. A mouse finally gnaws the snare in two.—American Indian: *Thompson Tales 290 n. 65. Cf. Luomala. |
| A728.2 | Sun-snarer: fast sun. The sun goes too fast to dry clothing. The hero snares the sun's legs with a rope as he is climbing up from the underworld. He releases the sun upon the promise to go more slowly.—Polynesian: *Dixon 44ff. n. 26; Society Is., Samoan: ibid. 46; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 10, 227, 230; Marquesas: Handy 103. Cf. Luomala. |
| A728.3 | Sun visits earth in form of black bull, caught by man, thus causing night. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A728.4 | Sun and moon carried through sky by animals. Speed depends upon hour and season.—S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 348. |
| A731 | Sun as king of sky and earth. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman; Africa: Bouveignes 14. |
| A731.1 | Sun sits on throne. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A731.2 | Crown of the sun. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A732 | The sun's animals. |
| A732.1 | Cattle and sheep of the sun. 350 of each (= days and nights of the lunar year).—Greek: Fox 242. |
| A732.2 | Horse of the sun. |
| A732.2.1 | Slave shoots arrow into leg of sun's horse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A733 | Heat and light of the sun. |
| A733.1 | Why sunlight is so much stronger than moonlight. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A733.2 | Mortal cannot look at sun since God's name is engraved on it. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A733.3 | Two faces of the sun: fire, directed toward earth; hail, directed toward heaven. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A733.4 | Beams of light are snares with which sun is tied to earth. Cf. A728.—Maori: Clark 46. |
| A733.5 | Sun dries out earth with its heat. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A734 | Sun hides. |
| A734.1 | Sun hides in cave. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A735 | Pursuit of sun by moon. Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 89; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 274 n. 9.—Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 189; African: Frobenius Atlantis XII 181, (Fang): Einstein 34, Trilles 173, (Dahomé): Einstein 30. |
| A735.1 | Moon tied to sun so that when sun sinks moon is dragged up to light earth. Maori: Clark 46. |
| A735.2 | Sun and moon pursued by dark planet in black chariot. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736 | Sun as human being. |
| A736.1 | Sun and moon as man and woman. India: Thompson-Balys; Macobi: Alexander Lat. Am 319; Africa: Meinhof 200. |
| A736.1.1 | Sun sister and moon brother. Brother visits sister at night. She marks him to identify him. He flees and she follows with flaming brand. She is sun and he the moon.—*Rank Das Inzestmotiv 446ff.; Frazer Ovid III 31.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 196; Lappish: Friis Lappisk Mythologi 79; German: Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens I 642, II 1511; India: Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 10 No. 3.—Eskimo: *Thompson Tales 273 note 6; S. Am. Indian (Chaco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Manasi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 393, (Witoto, Shipaya, Canelo, Warrau, Arawak): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (3) 54; African (Baluga): Einstein 176. |
| A736.1.2 | Sun-brother and moon-sister. Icel.: De la Saussaye 344; India: *Thompson-Balys.—N. A. Indian (Montagnais and Menominee): Alexander N. Am. 25. |
| A736.1.3 | Sun and moon as lovers. (Cf. A736.1.1.).—India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 306, (Caviсa, Tumupasa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448; African (Ekoi): Talbot 359. |
| A736.1.4 | Sun and moon married. *Fb. "sol" III 457b.—Lettish: Gray 321; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 133, Eberhard FFC CXX 113.—African: Werner African 232, (Fang): Trilles 171f.; Hatt Asiatic Influences 74f.—Tlingit: Alexander N. Am. 257; S. Am. Indian (Fuegian): Alexander Lat. Am. 342, (Jivaro): Stewart-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 627, Métraux RMLP XXXIII 129, (Aymara): Tschopik BBAE CXLIII (2) 571, (Chibcha): Kroeber ibid. 908. |
| A736.1.4.1 | Sun and moon quarrel when sun eats up all their children but two. India: Thompson-Balys. Cf. Africa: Meinhof 200. |
| A736.1.4.1.1 | Moon kills sun's children. Africa (Fang): Milligan Jungle 248. |
| A736.1.4.2 | Moon, sun are sister and brother, wife and husband. India: Thompson-Balys. Cf. A736.1.2. |
| A736.1.4.3 | Creator separates sun and moon to prevent birth of more stars. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.2 | Sun as woman. S. Am. Indian (Mocoví): Métraux MAFLS XXXX 20. |
| A736.3 | Sun and moon as brothers. N. Am. Indian (Klikitat): Jacobs Northwest Sahaptin Texts 16; S. Am. Indian (Guarani): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, (Chiriguano): Métraux ibid. 484; (Guaporé River): Lévi-Strauss ibid. 379. |
| A736.3.1 | Sun and moon as twin brothers. S. Am. Indian (Mataco, Chamacoco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Amuesa): *Métraux RMLP XXXIII 131. |
| A736.3.2 | Sun and moon brothers: sun clever, moon stupid. S. Am. Indian (Mataco, Chamacoco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Timbira, Sherente, Caingang, Mashachali): Lowie BBAE CXLIII (1) 397, 515. |
| A736.3.3 | Sun and his brother rise and set alternately. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.4 | Sun and moon as sisters, daughters of sky-god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.5 | Children of the sun. Tonga: Gifford 115. |
| A736.5.1 | Son of sun so hot no one can hold it. S. Am. Indian (Caviсa, Tumupasa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448. |
| A736.5.2 | Children from union with the sun turn into bit of blood in daytime as soon as they are exposed to sun; take human form (shape) again at sunset.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.6 | Sun and moon as friends. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.7 | Sun's affection for human girl rouses moon's jealousy. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.7.1 | Sun marries woman. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 35. |
| A736.8 | Original moon changed into sun and sun into moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.9 | Sun cursed by moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A736.10 | Human son of sun. Tonga: Gifford 114. |
| A736.11 | Contest between sun and moon. Chinese: Eberhard 219. |
| A737 | Causes of eclipses (sun or moon). *Hdwb. d. deutschen Aberglaubens II 1511; Penzer II 81f.—Estonian: Loortis Grundzüge I 153, 410ff.; Icel.: De la Saussaye 344; Jewish: Neuman; Korean: Zong in-Sob 11 No. 4; Hindu: Keith 137, 151, 192, 232f.; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Montagnais: Alexander N. Am. 25; Mataguaya (Pampean): Alexander Lat. Am. 319. |
| A737.0.1 | Origin of eclipse of moon. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A737.1 | Eclipse caused by monster devouring sun or moon. *Fb "solulv"; *Encyc. Religion and Ethics I 492a.; Gaster Oldest Stories 234; Gaster Thespis 206.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 279; Finnish: Kalevala rune 47; Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 424; Jugo-Slav: Máchal Slavic Myth 229; Armenian: Ananikian 48.—Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 736; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesian: Wilken Indische Gids (1885) I 240; Tahiti: Henry 227; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 123, 158, 165, (Mocoví): Métraux MAFLS XL 20, (Manao): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 712, (Guarani, Manasí, Guarayú, Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93, 393, 483, (Guayaki): Métraux-Baldus BBAE CXLIII (1) 444; (Toba, Abipуn, Mocovi, Mataco, Vilela): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Eastern Brazil): Lowie ibid. 434 (Tucuna): Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII (3) 724. |
| A737.2 | Cause of eclipses: mother's curse laid upon her third son. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A737.3 | Toad causes eclipses of the sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A737.4 | Ghosts of the sun's children return to cause eclipse. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A737.5 | Moon's eclipse caused by moon's interfering between attacker and person attacked. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A737.6 | Eclipses caused by animal hiding sun behind his body. S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 348, (Lule): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366. |
| A737.7 | Eclipses from quarrels between moon and sun. S. Am. Indian (Botocudo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 540. |
| A737.8 | Eclipses when sun smears his face on account of mourning. S. Am. Indian (Caviсa, Tumupasa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 448. |
| A737.8.1 | Sun hides face in shame: eclipse. Africa: Meinhof 207. |
| A737.9 | Eclipse as punishment by deity. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A737.10 | Eclipses because sun cannot endure tragic happenings of history. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A737.11 | Partial eclipses because of ailments of sun or moon. S. Am. Indian (Mojo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 424. |
| A738 | Attributes of sun. |
| A738.1 | Physical attributes. |
| A738.1.1 | Sun and moon are balls of feathers. S. Am. Indian (Bacairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 347f., (Paressi): Métraux ibid. 360. |
| A738.1.2 | Sun a fat woman walking across sky. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A738.2 | Mental powers and disposition of sun. |
| A738.2.1 | Religious sun and moon. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A738.2.2 | Sun endowed with wisdom and passion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A738.3 | Sun's healing powers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A738.4 | Sun's power over plants. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A739 | Nature and condition of the sun—miscellaneous. |
| A739.1 | Sun at the edge of the sky. Chinese: Graham. |
| A739.2 | War with the sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A739.3 | Each of sun brothers works for a month and plays for the other eleven; were they to work all together, the world would be burned up by the heat.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A739.4 | Reason for variations in seasonal heat of sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A739.5 | Why the sun is red. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Kamerun): Mansfield 235. |
| A739.6 | Sun sets and refuses to rise: must be coaxed back from underworld. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A739.7 | Sun's all-seeing eye. Greek: Grote I 313. |
| A739.8 | Sun as caretaker of the poor. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 165. |
| A739.9 | Sun has weapons of iron to repel enemies. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A740 | Creation of the moon. (Cf. A710 to A719, where many of the motifs refer to the moon).—*Rühle Sonne und Mond im primitiven Mythus (Tübingen, 1925); *Roheim Mondmythologie und Mondreligion (Leipzig, 1927); Nielsen Die altarabische Mondreligion (Strassburg, 1904); Harley Moon Lore (London, 1885); Wolf Der Mond im deutschen Volksglauben (Bühl, Baden, 1929).—Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Babylonian: Spence 79.—Indonesian: Dixon 177; Australian: ibid. 276ff.; Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 97 No. 18; Hopi: Alexander N. Am. 205; Quileute: Farrand JAFL XXXII 254ff.; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 205; Inca: Alexander Lat. Am. 240. |
| A741 | Moon from object (person) thrown into sky. Admiralty Is.: Dixon 112; Cook Group: ibid. 37; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 215. |
| A741.1 | Moon is water slung into sky. Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 421. |
| A741.2 | Chest of sacrificed youth becomes the moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A741.3 | Moon as grinder which brings fire out of the sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| 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. |
| A743 | Moon from transformed object. |
| A743.1 | Origin of moon from shell. Nauru (Pleasant Is.), Micronesia: Dixon 250. |
| A744 | Heavenly smith is hammering on the moon. Africa (Sudanese): Frobenius Atlantis VII 18f. |
| A745 | Family of the moon. |
| A745.1 | Moon born from first couple. Gilbert Is. (Micronesia): Dixon 254. |
| A745.2 | Mother of the moon: the most distant star in the sky. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A745.3 | Moon younger brother of the sun. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 158, 165. |
| A747 | Person transformed to moon. India: *Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 165, (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684, (Warrau): Kirchoff ibid. 879, (Chibcha): Kroeber BBAE CXLIII (2) 908; Norse: Boberg. |
| A750 | Nature and condition of the moon. Many motifs in A720 to A739 refer to the moon and are not here repeated. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A751.1.1 | 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. |
| A751.1.2 | Man in moon is put there as punishment for cursing God. U.S.: Baughman. |
| 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. |
| A751.2 | 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). |
| A751.3 | Frog in moon. S. Am. Indian (Warrau): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 123. |
| 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. |
| A751.4 | 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. |
| A751.5 | 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. |
| A751.5.1 | Man in the moon: moon's face scratched by hare in retaliation for injury to hare. (Cf. A2216.3.)—Hottentot: Bleek 72 No. 33. |
| A751.5.2 | Man in the moon: dung (ashes) on moon's face smeared there by sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A751.5.5 | Moon spots are tattoo marks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A751.6 | Cotton tree and nettles on moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A751.6.1 | Spots on moon a banyan tree planted there by creator to diminish its light. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A751.7 | Two children in moon with yoke and bucket. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 184, Boberg. |
| A751.8 | Woman in the moon. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 242, Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3/1010). |
| A751.8.1 | Man in the moon is an old woman busy with her spindle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A751.8.2 | Man in moon is a woman threshing corn with a dog by her side. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A751.8.3 | Goddess in moon with calabash at her side. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 221. |
| A751.8.4 | Woman in moon's oven seen on clear nights. Samoa: Clark 120. |
| A751.8.5 | Girl with tree carried to moon and is seen there. Samoa: Clark 119. |
| A751.8.6 | Goddess in moon beating tapa beneath tree. Tonga: Gifford 181. |
| A751.9 | Miscellaneous images on moon. |
| A751.9.1 | Rows of palm trees (black spots) on the moon. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A751.9.2 | Bag in the moon. Samoa: Clark 89. |
| A751.9.3 | Giant in moon. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 736. |
| A751.10 | Particular individual is man in the moon. |
| A751.10.1 | Joshua as man in the moon. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A751.10.2 | Jacob as man in the moon. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A751.11 | Other marks on the moon. India: Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 192. |
| A753 | Moon as a person. |
| 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. |
| A753.1.1 | Moon abducts woman. Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 29, (Cape York): Rasmussen III 50. |
| 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. |
| A753.1.3 | Moon (goddess, woman) cohabits with mortal man. Maori: Beckwith Myth 244. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A753.1.5 | Moon and mortal have child. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 199, (Greenland): Holm 47. |
| 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. |
| A753.3 | Moon as person—miscellaneous. |
| A753.3.1 | Moon deceives sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A753.3.2 | Moon steals from a garden. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A753.3.3 | During day moon stays with his mother under the earth. S. Am. Indian (Ipurina): Métraux MAFLS XL 19. |
| A753.3.4 | Moon endowed with wisdom and passion. Jewish: Neuman. |
| 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. |
| A754.1 | Moon buried in pit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A754.1.1 | Moon falls into pit but is rescued by man. S. Am. Indian (Guayaki): Métraux-Baldus BBAE CXLIII (1) 444. |
| A755 | Causes of moon's phases. Irish: Beal XXI 323; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 183; Baltic: (Lithuanian and Lettish): Gray 320; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 422f.; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 34 No 4; Hindu: Oldenberg Religion des Veda 171; Yakuts: Holmberg Siberian 424; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Maori: Dixon 88.—African: Werner African 227f. (Ekoi): Talbot 349, (Fang): Trilles 172. |
| 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. |
| A755.3.1 | Sacrifice made to free moon from sickness and allow waxing. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A755.4 | Moon cut in two by sun: hence waxes and wanes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A755.4.1 | Moon cut in half. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A755.4.2 | Moon stolen and divided into quarters. German: Grimm No. 175. |
| 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. |
| A755.6 | Moon's phases as punishment for moon's misdoing. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A755.7 | Moon's waning caused by menstrual period. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A756 | Moon as sun's representative at night. Egyptian: Müller 84. |
| A757 | Moon-boat. Lappish: Friis Lappisk Mythologi 79. |
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