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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 |
|---|---|
| N392.1 | Escaping prisoner falls by accident onto tiger's back and is carried away. Korean: Zong in-Sob 175 No. 75. |
| N392.2 | Woman errs on to the road-of-the-tiger: carried off. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 161. |
| N394 | Delay in bringing pardon allows deserved execution. Messenger, ignorant of contents of message, stops to view culprit's execution. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N394.1 | Sign of prisoner's reprieve changed by wind. A flag to be flown in certain way, but wind catches it just at the wrong moment so that prisoner is executed. Korean: Zong in-Sob 61 No. 34. |
| N395 | Man blinded trying to heal girl. Powders blow into his one good eye. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N396 | The sleeping guard. Watchman falls asleep as enemy approaches. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N397 | Accidental self-injury. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N398 | Mistake in interpreting prophecy (oracle) brings misfortune. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N399 | Additional unlucky accidents. |
| N399.1 | Shipwrecked man lands on deadly enemy's territory and is attacked. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N399.2 | Man's inordinate laughter brings unfortunate results. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N399.3 | Man discovers he is married to wer-tiger. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N400 | Lucky accident. |
| N410 | Lucky business venture. |
| N411 | Object unknown in a country sold for a fortune. |
| N411.1 | Whittington's cat. A cat in a mouse-infested land without cats sold for a fortune. *Types 1650, 1651; *BP II 69ff.; *Fb "kat" II 108, IV 255b, "mus" II 632a; *Brueyre RTP III 36; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N411.1.1 | Cat as sole inheritance. *Types 1650, 1651, 545AB; *BP I 325, II 69ff., III 487; Missouri French: Carrière; Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 4. |
| N411.2 | Sickle sold for fortune in land without sickles. *Types 1650, 1202; *BP II 69ff., 72 n. 1. |
| N411.2.1 | Sickle as only inheritance. *Type 1650; *BP II 69ff. |
| N411.3 | Fortune from informing foreign king of use of saddle, bridle, and stirrups. *Chauvin VII 19 No. 373D n. 2. |
| N411.4 | Salt in saltless land sold for fortune. Russian: Andrejev No. 1651*; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N411.5 | Sandalwood merchant sells his product at high price in land lacking sandalwood. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N412 | Fortune from trifling sum sent abroad with merchant. *Chauvin VI 65 No. 233 n. 1. |
| N415 | King's example makes merchant wealthy. The king buys shoes for a high price and then has all his dinner guests buy them. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 137 No. 100. |
| N421 | Lucky bargain. *Types 571, 1415; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| N421.1 | Progressive lucky bargains. (Opposite of J2081.) *Type 1415; BP II 199ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa: Werner African 219f.; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Friends 176 No. 24. |
| N425 | Abducted princess wishes that she were with rejected suitor; discovers that she is. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N426 | Poor man carries unwittingly in his water jar a large scorpion which brings him fortune. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N440 | Valuable secrets learned. Missouri French: Carrière. |
| N450 | Secrets overheard. *Chauvin V 13, 293, VIII 61 No. 26; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 23; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N451 | Secrets overheard from animal (demon) conversation. *Types 516, 517, 670, 673; BP I 42ff., 131f.; **Aarne FFC XV; **Rösch FFC LXXVII 102, 114; Penzer I 48, III 60; Icelandic: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 131, 144, Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda, Basile Pentamerone IV No. 9; Greek: Grote I 105; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 1138; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 150, 155. |
| N451.1 | Secrets of animals (demons) accidentally overheard from tree (bridge) hiding place. *Type 613; BP II 468ff., *481; **Christiansen FFC XXIV 60ff.; *Fb "bjørn" IV 43a, "ravn" III 22b, "bro", IV 62n; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3296, Legends No. 527; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 16, 23; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N452 | Secret remedy overheard in conversation of animals (witches). *Types 432, 613, 613*; BP II 261ff.; **Christiansen FFC XXIV 77, 81, 123; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 527; Italian: Basile Pentamerone II No. 2; India: *Thompson-Balys, Panchatantra III 11 (tr. Ryder) 346; Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; Korean: Zong in-Sob 150; Buriat: Holmberg Siberian 427; S. A. Indian (Chincha): Alexander Lat. Am. 230. |
| N452.1 | Remedy for lack of water in certain place overheard in conversation of animals (demons). *Type 613; **Christiansen FFC XXIV 86ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 527. |
| N452.1.1 | Reason for withering of tree overheard in conversation of animals (demons). Type 613; **Christiansen FFC XXV 89ff. |
| N452.2 | Secret remedy revealed by departing animal. House spirit (or bird) leaves saying, "If you knew what valerian is good for, the people would not die so fast." **A. Martin "Die Pestage vom Vogel, der Bimbanelle und Baldrian als Heilmittel verkundet im Vogelsberg" Volk. u. Scholle IX No. 1. |
| N453 | Man transformed as ant, learns secret of freeing princess. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| N454 | Conversation of objects overheard. |
| N454.1 | Speaking bed-legs overheard. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N454.2 | King overhears conversation of lamps. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N455 | Overheard (human) conversation. *Dickson 29 n. 1; Missouri French: Carrière; Jewish: Neuman; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| N455.1 | Overheard boast about hidden money brings about robbery. Type 1577*; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N455.2 | Robbers' plans overheard: owner warned. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 325 No. 8; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N455.2.1 | Robbers' secret overheard and later used in court against them. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N455.3 | Secret formula for opening treasure mountain overheard from robbers (Open Sesame). *Type 676; *BP III 137ff.; Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 144; India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 339. |
| N455.4 | King overhears girl's boast as to what she should do as queen. Marries her. *Type 707; BP II 380ff., *393; India: *Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 388. |
| N455.5 | Secret remedies learned from green-clad woman. Italian: Basile Pentamerone IV No. 2. |
| N455.6 | Husband learns of wife's fidelity through conversation overheard. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N455.7 | Secret about prince's father learned by eavesdropper from his mother's talking to him. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N455.8 | Friend lingering in the kitchen learns of friend's distress and helps him. Icelandic: Göngu-Hrуlfs saga 307, Boberg. |
| N455.9 | Location of sought object learned from overheard conversation. Korean: Zong in-Sob 69; Tonga: Gifford 54. |
| N455.10 | By hiding, stupid son overhears conversation and claims magic power for bamboo cup. Chinese: Graham. |
| N455.11 | Servant overhearing conversation realizes the misery of his employment. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N455.12 | Men hear father threaten to marry daughters to first comers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N456 | Enigmatical smile (laugh) reveals secret knowledge. *Type 670; **Aarne FFC XV 31ff.; Wesselski Mönchslatein 93 No. 153; Wesselski Archiv Orientální I 82; Krappe Revue Celtique XLVIII 401ff.; *Schoepperle I 198 n. 1; *Penzer I 46 n. 2; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 358; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N465 | Secret physical peculiarity discovered by barber. (Midas.) See all references to F511.2.2. and D1316.5. Alphabet No. 268; Irish myth: *Cross; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 886 I*. |
| N465.0.1 | Secret physical blemish revealed by beaten handmaid. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N465.1 | Secret of person's sleeplessness discovered by trickery. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N466 | Daughter lousing mother weeps and reveals secret. Chinese: Graham. |
| N467 | King in disguise to learn secrets of his subjects. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N468 | Newborn babe reveals secret; then becomes silent. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N471 | Foolish attempt of second man to overhear secrets (from animals, demons etc.). He is punished. *Types 461, 503, 613, 676; *BP II 468ff., III 137ff., 324ff.; *Aarne FFC XXIII 169; *Christiansen FFC XXIV 103ff.; *Hdwb. d. Märchens I 230b s.v. "Belauschen von Dämonen". — Missouri French: Carrière; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. No. 117; India: Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda, Mitford 191; Korean: Zong in-Sob 151 No. 66; Indonesia: Dixon 216; N. A. Indian (Pochulata): Boas JAFL XXV 223; Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 249ff. No. 2. |
| N475 | Secret name overheard by eavesdropper. *Type 500; *Clodd TomTit-Tot; *Polivka Zs. f. Vksk. X 254ff.; *Von Sydow Tvе Spinnsagor; Icelandic: Boberg; Japanese: Ikeda; Jamaica: *Beckwith MAFLS XVII 247 No. 23, 267 No. 75, 279 Nos. 92, 93; West Indies: Flowers 564. |
| N475.1 | Secret age overheard by eavesdropper. Man masking as cuckoo in tree causes the surprised ogre to disclose secret. BP I 497. |
| N475.2 | Secret reason why hero does not want to eat the food of the foreign king overheard by eavesdropper. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N476 | Secret of unique vulnerability disclosed. |
| N476.1 | Secret of vulnerability voluntarily disclosed. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N476.2 | Man vulnerable only in armpits shot as he stretches his arms. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N476.3 | Secret unique means of killing ogre overheard from children. Chinese: Graham. |
| N478 | Secret wealth betrayed by money left in borrowed money-scales. *Type 676; *BP III 137ff.; *Fb "skjæppe" III 275b; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 70 No. 545C*; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 336, 338; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 389. |
| N478.1 | Secret meat-eating betrayed by grease on mouth. Africa (Larusa): Fokken ZsKS VII 82ff. No. 1, (Masai): Hollis The Masai (Oxford, 1905) 212ff., (Mossi): Frobenius Atlantis VIII 239ff. |
| N481 | Secret escapes with man's blood. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N482 | Secret learned by torture. |
| N482.1 | Secret learned by burning hand. *Cosquin Contes indiens 397ff. |
| N484 | Giant unwittingly reveals span of life to dwarf, who is thus emboldened to attack him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N500 | Treasure trove. **Norlind Skattsägner (bibliography 67f.); **Kittredge Witchcraft 204ff., 516ff.; *Fb "skat" III 234ff.; *Wehrhan 80f.; RTP XIV 71, 568, XVIII 418, XIX 306; *S. Hirschberg Schatzglaube und Totenglaube (Breslau, 1934); **Hurley WF X 197—216. — Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 419ff., (1931) 293ff., A. Olrik Nordisk Aandsliv (Copenhagen, 1907) 8—87; Norwegian: Solheim Register 20; Irish myth: *Cross; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 69ff. Nos. 199—221; German: **Winter Die deutsche Schatzsage; Missouri French: Carrière; U.S. (Texas): *Dobie Coronado's Children; Chinese: Graham. |
| N510 | Where treasure is found. Chinese: Graham. |
| N511 | Treasure in ground. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; U.S.: Baughman; Chinese: Graham. |
| N511.1 | Treasure buried by men. Irish myth: *Cross; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 692; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 425ff., (1931) 297ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| N511.1.0.1 | Treasure buried by dying man. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 128 No. 63; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 5 No. 63. |
| N511.1.0.2 | Sword hidden by old man. Herrmann Saxo II 306. |
| N511.1.1 | Treasure buried in graves. *Winter 11; Icelandic: *Boberg; Chinese: Graham. |
| N511.1.2 | Treasure buried in ancient settlements. *Winter 16. |
| N511.1.3 | Treasure buried in extraordinary topographical formations. *Winter 27. |
| N511.1.4 | Buried treasure wanders from place to place. Indicated by a light. (Cf. N532.) *Winter 30. |
| N511.1.5 | Treasure buried in woodshed. Type 935***. |
| N511.1.6 | Treasure in cellar of ruined house. Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 7. |
| N511.1.6.1 | Treasure found in ruined wall. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N511.1.7 | Treasure hidden by retreating army. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3740. |
| N511.1.8 | Treasure buried in chest, cask, kettle, or cannon barrel. (Cf. N525.) U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N511.1.9 | Treasure buried under tree. U.S.: Baughman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N511.1.10 | Treasure buried under flower. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N511.1.11 | Treasure buried on top of mountain. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N511.1.12 | Treasure buried on island. Canada, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N511.1.13 | Treasure buried under stump. U.S.: Baughman; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| N511.2 | Natural underground treasure. *Winter 35; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N511.3 | Treasure placed in ground by supernatural beings. |
| N511.3.1 | Treasure of mountain spirit. *Winter 36. |
| N511.3.2 | Treasure placed in old fortifications by supernatural beings. *Winter 38. |
| N511.4 | Treasure found in snake hole. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N511.6 | Treasure under stone. A. F. Schmidt DF XXXIX 106ff. |
| N512 | Treasure in underground chamber (cavern). *Type 676; *Winter 23; *Hartland Science 174, 176, 189; Irish myth: *Cross; U.S.: Baughman; Icelandic: Boberg; Missouri French: Carrière; Jewish: *Neuman; Chinese: Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 39f., 221; Japanese: Ikeda; West Indies: Flowers 564. |
| N513 | Treasure hidden under the water. *Winter 19; *Fb "skat" III 235a; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 442ff., (1931) 305ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N513.1 | Man jumps into the sea, river or waterfall with his treasure. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N513.2 | Sword hidden under water. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N513.3 | Treasure hidden in spring. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N513.4 | Treasure hidden in river. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N513.5 | Treasure buried in sunken ship. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N513.6 | Queen's jewel-box thrown into tank floats to top during first week of new moon; light or large jewel on top reveals it to passersby. It disappears when someone tries to get it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N514 | Treasure hidden in religious shrine. *Winter 14. |
| N514.1 | Treasure hidden in sanctuary. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N514.2 | Treasure in temple. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N516 | Treasure at end of rainbow. *Fb "regenbue" III 31b, "skat" III 235a; African: Werner African 234. |
| N517 | Treasure hidden in building. |
| N517.1 | Treasure hidden in secret room in house. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N517.2 | Treasure hidden within wall (under floor) of house. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N518 | Gold found, concealed in bricks and successfully secured. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 1669*. |
| N521 | Treasure left in stick. It accidentally falls apart. *Chauvin II 129 No. 137; Icelandic: *Boberg; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 129 No. 67. |
| N522 | Treasure hidden in pillow under dead man's head. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 129 No. 66; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3622; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 45 No. 66. |
| N523 | Treasure hidden in a stone. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N524 | Treasure found in beggar's hat. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N524.1 | Money found in the dead beggar's coat. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 842*; Russian: Andrejev No. 842 I. |
| N525 | Treasure found in chest (kettle, cask). (Cf. N511.1.8.) Type 968*; *Fb "skat" III 236b; Icelandic: Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 78 Nos. 652—656; Italian Novella: Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N526 | Treasure found in bundle of rags. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| N527 | Treasure (money) carried by bird to nest. English: Wells 114 (Sir Isumbras); Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 937*. |
| N527.1 | Diamond in meat carried to eagle's nest. *Chauvin VII 11 No. 373B n. 1. |
| N527.2 | Talisman found in bird's stomach. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N528 | Treasure found in hollow of tree. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| N529 | Where treasure is found—miscellaneous. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N529.1 | Lump of gold appears in Arabia at Christ's birth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N529.2 | Pearl found in fish. Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N530 | Discovery of treasure. *Fb "skat" III 235a; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| N531 | Treasure discovered through dream. Type 834*; Scotland, England, U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 693; Icelandic: *Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 481ff., (1931) 323ff.; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas V 18; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Africa (Fjort): Dennett 39 No. 5; West Indies: Flowers 564. |
| N531.1 | Dream of treasure on the bridge. A man dreams that if he goes to a distant city he will find treasure on a certain bridge. Finding no treasure, he tells his dream to a man who says that he too has dreamed of treasure at a certain place. He describes the place, which is the first man's home. When the latter returns home he finds the treasure. *Type 1645; **Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XIX 289ff.; *Wesselski Mönchslatein 120 No. 101; *Hauffen Zs. f. Vksk. X 432; *Tille in Veckenstedt's Zs. f. Vksk. III 132ff.; DeCock RTP XV 294; *Fb "skat" III 235a, "bro" IV 62b; *Chauvin VI 94 No. 258; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3636; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| N531.2 | Dream brings treasure: trade vineyards with neighbor. A treasure is found in the new vineyard. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 328. |
| N531.3 | Dream of treasure bought. Treasure has been seen by man's soul absent in sleep in form of a fly. The purchaser of the dream finds the treasure. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3520; Persian: Lorimer Persian Tales 311 No. 49; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| N531.4 | Grateful king advises merchant in dream to take treasure from his grave mound. Icelandic: ASB 14 p. 76 n., *Boberg. |
| N531.5 | Man dreams of large jars full of wealth, which he can get if he will sacrifice his wife for the getting. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N532 | Light indicates hidden treasure. (Cf. N511.1.4.) *Fb "lys" II 480b; *Norlind 34ff., 57; England, U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 691, 694; Icelandic: *Boberg; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 419ff., (1931) 293ff.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3632. |
| N532.1 | Half-moon close to the earth indicates hidden treasure. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N533 | Treasure discovered by magic object. |
| N533.1 | Treasure discovered by clairvoyant vase. (Cf. D1323.2.) *Chauvin V 259 No. 154. |
| N533.2 | Treasure found by clairvoyant mirror. (Cf. D1323.1.) *Winter 83. |
| N533.3 | Treasure discovered by hand of unborn child. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 7 No. 645. |
| N533.4 | Consecrated wine used to discover treasure. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 77 No. 649. |
| N533.5 | Men find mines of copper, silver, gold and iron where balls fall. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N534 | Treasure discovered by accident. Irish myth: Cross; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 78 Nos. 652—656; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; West Indies: Flowers 565. |
| N534.1 | Stumble reveals depository of treasure. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N534.2 | Gold hoard found by cow stepping into hole. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N534.3 | Saint sticks crozier into sod and finds pound of gold. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N534.4 | Information about treasure received from overheard conversation. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N534.5 | Poor boy accidentally finds deserted city with treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N534.6 | Treasure found by man when he obeys call of nature. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N534.7 | Man digging stones in the pavement finds a chest of treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N534.7.1 | Men digging hole to plant rose-tree find treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N534.8 | Jewel found accidentally on a bought donkey's neck. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| N535 | Treasure indicated by statue (stone) with inscription, "Dig here". *Spargo Virgil the Necromancer 363 n. 3; *Fb "skat" III 235a; *Oesterley No. 107; Danish: Blinkenberg Danske Studier (1928) 97ff.; Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N535.1 | Treasure indicated by stone cross on the ground. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N536 | Treasure pointed out by angels. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman, bin Gorion Born Judas I 188, 374. |
| N537 | Speaking bird tells where treasure is buried. Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman, *bin Gorion Born Judas IV 29, 275; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N538 | Treasure pointed out by supernatural creature (fairy, etc.). Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 75 No. 60; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 299, 624f., II 979. |
| N538.1 | Treasure pointed out by soul which has left body for this purpose. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| N538.2 | Treasure from defeated giant. (Cf. F531.6.7, G610, D838.6.) Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N541 | Treasure reveals itself only at certain times. |
| N541.1 | Treasure reveals itself only on Christmas at midnight (or Christmas Eve). Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 294—308 passim; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3611. |
| N541.2 | Treasure reveals itself once a century. Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 295 No. 21. |
| N541.3 | Treasure found on Hallowe'en. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N541.4 | Treasure discovered at the Nativity of Christ. Irish myth: Cross. |
| N542 | Special conditions for finding treasure. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 77 Nos. 642—644, 648; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| N542.1 | Treasure found if one goes with one-night old colt on to one-night old ice. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 45 No. 65**. |
| N542.2 | Treasure to be found when three-legged cat shrieks over the burial place. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 129 No. 69. |
| N543 | Certain person to find treasure. Lithuanian: Balys Index Nos. 3612, 3616, 3620. |
| N543.0.1 | Only particular persons see hidden treasure in its true form; others see it as coal, serpents, scorpions, etc. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N543.1 | Treasure to be found by hand that hid it. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 77 Nos. 638, 639; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 45 No. 64; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3611; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 128 No. 64. |
| N543.2 | Treasure to be found by man who plows with cock and harrows with hen. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 693; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 45 No. 65; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3615; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 129 No. 65. |
| N543.3 | Treasure to be found by man who marries original owner's daughter. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 129 No. 68. |
| N545 | Man in despair digging own grave finds treasure. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas I 288, 378. |
| N545.1 | Man in despair preparing to hang himself finds treasure in the tree (beam). Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3623; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| N545.2 | Man ready to kill self hears voice directing him to buried fortune. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N547 | Understanding of animal languages leads to discovery of a treasure. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 42. |
| N549 | Discovery of treasure—miscellaneous. |
| N549.1 | Four pots of rupees magically appear on horns of buffaloes stuck in pond, and poor owner becomes rich. India: Thompson-Balys |
| N550 | Unearthing hidden treasure. Irish myth: *Cross; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| N550.1 | Continual failure to find or unearth hidden treasure. Texas: Dobie Coronado's Children passim. |
| N551 | Who may unearth a treasure. |
| N551.1 | Only weak-minded person may unearth a treasure. Fb "sær" III 723b. |
| N551.2 | Treasure may be unearthed only by man who on the spot has sexual relations with a woman in the manner of dogs. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| N552 | Treasure opens itself. |
| N552.1 | Treasure opens itself for destined hero. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N553 | Tabus in effect while treasure is being unearthed. |
| N553.1 | Tabu: incontinence while treasure is being raised. Winter 77. |
| N553.2 | Unlucky encounter causes treasure-seekers to talk and thus lose treasure. *Fb "skat" III 236b; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 78f. Nos. 659, 664—672; Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 439ff., 447ff., (1931) 304ff., 307ff.; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 692f. |
| N553.3 | Treasure finders must not take all of money. Fb "penge" II 803a. |
| N553.4 | Tabu: looking around while raising treasure. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 78, 80 Nos. 658, 668. |
| N553.5 | Tabu: fear of threatening animals while treasure is being raised. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 76 No. 636. |
| N554 | Ceremonies and prayers used at unearthing of treasure. *Winter 77. |
| N554.1 | Sacrifices at unearthing of treasure. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 76f. Nos. 637, 646. |
| N555 | Time favorable for unearthing treasure. *Winter 69. |
| N555.1 | Between midnight and cockcrow best time for unearthing treasure. Fb "midnat" II 587. |
| N555.2 | Treasure nearest to surface at full of moon. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 695. |
| N556 | Treasure-finders always frightened away. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 692; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3642; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N557 | Treasure disappears after being uncovered. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N558 | Raised treasure turns into charcoal (shavings). If one takes it along it will turn back into gold. *Norlind 56; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 75f. Nos. 631—634; West Indies: Flowers 565. |
| N561 | Electric shock scares away treasure diggers. Scotland: Baughman. |
| N562 | Treasure removes itself from time to time. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 695. |
| N562.1 | Treasure having removed itself eventually returns. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 695. |
| N563 | Treasure seekers find hole from which treasure has recently been removed. (Often they have delayed searching for one reason or another, arrive too late.) U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N564 | Magic illusion prevents men from raising treasure. Danish: Kristensen Danske Sagn III (1895) 447ff., (1931) 307ff. |
| N570 | Guardian of treasure. *Fb "skat" III 235b, 236a; *Winter 41; *Norlind 69ff.; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 73ff. Nos. 623—629. |
| N571 | Devil (demon) as guardian of treasure. *Fb "skat" III 235b, "djævel" IV 99b; *Kittredge Witchcraft 204f., 517 n. 8; *Penzer III 133n.; *Winter 41; U.S.: Baughman; Icelandic: *Boberg; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 16 No. 9; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 678. |
| N571.1 | Ogre's son guardian of treasure trove. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N572 | Woman as guardian of treasure. |
| N572.1 | "White woman" as guardian of treasure. *Norlind 69ff.; *Winter 47. |
| N572.2 | Swan maidens as guardians of treasure. *Norlind 71f. |
| N572.3 | Girl with ghostly treasure in boat. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3631. |
| N573 | Sleeping king in mountain as guardian of treasure. *Norlind 4ff.; Hartland Science 207. |
| N574 | Dwarf as guardian of treasure. *Winter 58. |
| N575 | Griffin as guardian of treasure. (Cf. B42.) Penzer I 104. |
| N576 | Ghosts prevent men from raising treasure. U.S.: Baughman; North Carolina: Brown Collection I 693; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 4 No. 30; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3642; Italian: Basile Pentamerone I No. 7; West Indies: Flowers 565. |
| N576.1 | Voice of ghost scares away treasure seekers. Canada, England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N576.2 | Ghostly lights frighten treasure seekers. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N576.3 | Ghost of treasure's human owner as guardian. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| N577 | Blind man carrying lame man as guardians of treasure. Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| N581 | Treasure guarded by magic object. (Cf. D1560.) |
| N581.1 | Treasure guarded by magic millstone. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N582 | Serpent guards treasure. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N583 | Angel as guardian of treasure. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N590 | Treasure trove—miscellaneous motifs. |
| N591 | Curse on treasure. Finder or owner to have bad luck. *Fb "skat" III 234b, 235b; Icelandic: *Boberg; N. A. Indian (Wampanoag): Knight JAFL XXXVIII 134; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 185. |
| N595 | Helper in hiding treasure killed in order that nobody may ever find it. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| N596 | Discovery of rich mine. |
| N596.1 | Rich mine discovered through dream. (Cf. N531.) U.S.: *Baughman. |
| N596.2 | Rich mine discovered by accidental breaking off of rock. U.S.: Baughman. |
| N597 | Discovery of underground oil pools. |
| N597.1 | Pools of underground oil discovered through dreams. (Cf. N531.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| N610 | Accidental discovery of crime. |
| N611 | Criminal accidentally detected: "that is the first." India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N611.1 | Criminal accidentally detected: "that is the first"—sham wise man. The sham wise man employed to detect theft is feasted. As the servants enter with food he remarks to his wife, "That is the first" (course). (Or allowed to feast for three days remarks at end of first day "That is the first.") The servants, thinking they are detected, confess. *Type 1641; BP II 401ff., *409; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 818; *Penzer III 75f.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 302. |
| N611.1.1 | Name of criminal accidentally spoken out (identical with ordinary word in speech). India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N611.2 | Criminal accidentally detected: "That is the first" — sleepy woman counting her yawns. Robber hearing her flees. (Cf. N612.) *BP II 412; U.S.: Baughman. |
| N611.3 | Numskull bridegroom unwittingly sings out phrases that thieves mistake to mean he has detected them. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N611.4 | Thief hears owner of house singing "Bore and throw out the earth" and thinks himself detected. Offers owner money to purchase his silence. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N612 | Numskull talks to himself and frightens robbers away. *Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin II 211 No. 428, *215 No. 446; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| N612.1 | Man scolds his ass and frightens robber away. While the man is absent from his ass the robber steals the man's coat. The ass brays and the man scolds him. The robber thinking he is discovered flees and leaves the coat. Wesselski Hodscha Nasreddin I 224 No. 62. |
| N613 | Numskull bribed to keep silent in elephant sale when he manifests interest, though utterly ignorant. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N614 | Cane as evidence of robbery. A man believing that he has killed a robber forgets his cane. Later finds it in robber's house. Type 961*; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 961*; Russian: Andrejev No. 961*. |
| N615 | Murder revealed to thieves climbing into bank. Type 951B. |
| N617 | Impostor accidentally gives king talking bed which reveals his identity. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| N618 | Officer comes accidentally to the same building where the fugitive sleeps. Jewish: Neuman. |
| N620 | Accidental success in hunting or fishing. |
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