Folklore Database · Browse
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 |
|---|---|
| D1083.1 | Magic poignard (dagger). *Basset 1001 Contes I 143; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "poignard". |
| D1084 | Magic spear. (Cf. D1086.) MacCulloch Childhood 203; Greek: Fox 72 (Prokris); Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Gaster Thespis 158; Hindu: Keith 140; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 316, 355; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 492; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 192; Africa (Benga): Nassau 177 No. 24, (Duala): Lederbogen Märchen V 138. |
| D1084.1 | Magic spear-head. Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 198f.; Africa (Benga): Nassau 177 No. 24 (version 1). |
| D1085 | Magic javelin. Hindu: Tawney I 166. |
| D1086 | Magic lance. *Gaster FL II 57; Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh MacCulloch Celtic 202; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1087 | Magic sling. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1091 | Magic bow. *Type 592; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Fox 139 (Odysseus); Hindu: Penzer IV 55; Chinese: Werner 312; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 213; S. A. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 99. |
| D1092 | Magic arrow. *Chauvin V 230 No. 130; Köhler-Bolte I 554.—Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "flèches"; Greek: Pauly-Wissowa s.v. "Anaphe", Fox 84, 131; Jewish: *Neuman; Hindu: Tawney I 166, 358, 438; Chinese: Werner 182, 312; Chinese-Persian: Coyajee JPASB XXIV 185; Hawaii: Dixon 75; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 315 n. 145a, 333 n. 203, 356 n. 287b, (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 318 No. 58, 514 No. 109, (Cree, Menominee): Skinner JAFL XXVII 98; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 37, Rink 316; S. A. Indian (Jibaro, Eastern Equador): Boas JAFL XXXII 446 (from Karsten Myths of the Jibaros), (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 99, 132, (Toba): ibid. 77; Africa (Fang): Einstein 71, (Vai): Ellis 191 No. 8; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 277 No. 89. |
| D1092.0.1 | Magic arrow makes five wounds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1092.1 | Magic quiver. Hindu: Penzer IV 54. |
| D1093 | Magic missile. Hindu: Meyer Hindu 75 n.; Fuegian: Alexander Lat. Am. 340; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 356 n. 287b. |
| D1093.1 | Boomerang effect of hurled missiles caused by a saint. *Loomis White Magic 131. |
| D1093.1.1 | Arrows returned upon those who shoot saint. *Loomis White Magic 114. |
| D1094 | Magic cudgel (club). *Types 563, 534*; BP I 349ff.; *MacCulloch Childhood 214; Aarne MSFO XXVII 1—96; Gaster Thespis 158, Oldest Stories 231; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 49 No. 330; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 9; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 196; Tonga: Gifford 178; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 336 n. 214; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 75; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 44 No. 4; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 248 No. 25. |
| D1095 | Magic hammer (Mjölnir). Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 78ff. |
| D1096 | Magic firearms. |
| D1096.1 | Magic gun. *Type 304, 594*; *Fb "bøsse" IV 86b, "skyde" III 345b.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "fusil"; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 49 No. 330. |
| D1096.2 | Magic pistol. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "pistolet". |
| D1096.3 | Magic bullet. Fb "sølvknap", "sølvkugle" III 737a; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| D1097 | Magic battle-axe. Chinese: Werner 196. |
| D1101 | Magic armor. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Korean: Zong in-Sob 64; Eskimo (Greenland): Holm 16. |
| D1101.1 | Magic shield. Andrews MPh. IX 27, 32.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 67 No. 508*A; Jewish: Neuman; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin 5. |
| D1101.2 | Magic cuirass. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 67 No. |
| D1101.3 | Magic breastplate. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1101.4 | Magic helmet. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: Frazer Apollodorus I 47 n. 3. |
| D1101.5 | Magic scabbard. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D1101.6 | Magic yoke. |
| D1102 | Magic trident. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1110 | Magic conveyances. |
| D1523.2.6 | Bundle of wood magically acts as riding-horse. |
| D1111 | Magic carriage. *Chauvin V 229 No. 130. |
| D1111.1 | Carriage produced by magic. Saintyves Perrault 151ff.; |
| D1112 | Magic cart. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "charette". |
| D1113 | Magic wagon. *Type 675; *Fb "vogn" III 1078a. |
| D1114 | Magic chariot. *Chauvin V 229; Loomis White Magic 35f.; Jones PMLA XXIII 574; *Fb "guldkaret" I 513b.—Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: Fox 115, 119, 213, *Frazer Apollodorus I 38 n. 2; Jewish: *Neuman; Hindu: Keith 108, Penzer IV 3ff., 8ff. |
| D1115 | Magic sleigh. Fb "kane". |
| D1118 | Magic airships. *BP III 273.—Irish myth: *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 275 n. 14d. |
| D1118.1 | Magic air-riding basket. Cox Cinderella 323; N. A. Indian (Atsina): Curtis N. A. Indian V 123. |
| D1121 | Magic boat. (Cf. D1123.) *Barry JAFL XXVIII 195.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; Arabian: Burton Nights I 242f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 150; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 154, 300, 417, Holm 43, Rasmussen III 102, 294, (Smith Sound): Kroeber JAFL XII 26, 171, (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 500, (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XXII 17, (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 41, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 181, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 628; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 275 n. 14a. |
| D1121.0.1 | Boat made by magic. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bateau"; Finnish: Kalevala rune 16. |
| D1121.1 | Magic hollow-log boat. N. A. Indian: Thompson Tales 275 n. 14e. |
| D1122 | Magic canoe. (Cf. D1121.) Marquesas: Handy 46; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 275 n. 14e. |
| D1122.1 | Canoe made by magic. Polynesian, Melanesian, Indonesian: Dixon 68 nn. *39, *40; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 275 n. 14b; Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 192. |
| D1123 | Magic ship. (Cf. D1121.) *Fb "skib" III 242b, 243ab; *Chauvin V 201 No. 117 n. 1; cf. Cox Cinderella 159, 480 n. 11.—Irish myth: Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 192; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "navire"; English: Child IV 376—380, V 275f., 484 s.v. "Jonah"; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish: Kalevala rune 30, 39; Greek: Fox 138, *Frazer Apollodorus I 109 n. 4. |
| D1124 | Magic oar. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "aviron"; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen II 153, 157. |
| D1124.1 | Magic paddle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1131 | Magic castle. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "château"; English: Wells 17 (Reinbrun, Gy sone of Warwike); Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 56 No. 408A*. |
| D1131.1 | Castle produced by magic. *Type 554, 560, 561, 675, 512*; *Aarne MSFO XXV 44; *BP II 455ff., 547ff.; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1132 | Magic palace. Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 56 No. 408*A; English: Wells 145 (Parthenope of Blois); India: Thompson-Balys Tawney I 257. |
| D1132.1 | Palace produced by magic. *Chauvin V 63 No. 19. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 183. |
| D1133 | Magic house. *Fb "hus" I 686b.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1133.1 | House created by magic. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; N. A. Indian (Seneca): Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 349 No. 60, 392 No. 70; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 77. |
| D1133.1.1 | Magic house made by prayer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1134 | Magic church (temple). |
| D1134.1 | Church produced by magic. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| D1136 | Magic fort. |
| D1136.1 | Fort produced by magic. Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "fort". |
| D1138 | Magic tent. *Chauvin VI 135 No. 286 n. 1; Icelandic: Hjálmthèrs Saga ok ölvis 468; Indonesian: DeVries Volksverhalen II 365, No. 114. |
| D1141 | Magic room. |
| D1141.1 | Magic kitchen. Hindu: Tawney II 226. |
| D1144 | Magic stairs. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 49 No. 330. |
| D1145 | Magic windows. Type 329; BP III 366. |
| D1146 | Magic door (gate). Jewish: *Neuman; N. A. Indian (Shasta): Farrand-Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 216 No. 6. |
| D1146.1 | Magic doorstep. Chinese: Graham. |
| D1147 | Magic hearth. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1148 | Magic tomb. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1149 | Magic buildings and parts—miscellaneous. |
| D1149.1 | Store, fully supplied, produced by magic. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| D1149.2 | Magic tower. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1149.3 | Magic house-pillars. Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 442. |
| D1150 | Magic furniture. BP II 527. |
| D1151 | Magic seat. *BP II 188.—Icelandic: De la Saussaye 286, Hrуlfs saga Kraka ch. 33, *Boberg. |
| D1151.1 | Magic bench. *Type 330. |
| D1151.2 | Magic chair. *BP II 188; *Chauvin V 229 No. 130.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chaise"; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 322 No. 92; Greek: Fox 206, Frazer Apollodorus II 152 No. 4; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1153 | Magic table. *Types 563, 564; BP I 346ff.; *Aarne JSFO XXVII 1—96 passim, MSFO XXV 118; *Köhler-Bolte I 109; *Chauvin V 272 No. 154.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; English: Wells 32 (Layamon's Brut); Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 297 No. 28. |
| D1153.1 | Magic tablecloth. *Type 569, 851, 853; BP I 464ff.; *Aarne MSFO XXV 118; Penzer I 25f.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "serviette". |
| D1154 | Magic couch. |
| D1154.1 | Magic bed. German: Grimm No. 4; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 57; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1154.1.1 | Magic bed-legs. |
| D1154.2 | Magic sofa. *Chauvin V 230 No. 130. |
| D1154.3 | Magic hammock. Africa (Vai): Ellis 200 No. 18. |
| D1154.3.1 | Magic swing. |
| D1154.3.2 | Magic palanquin. |
| D1154.4 | Magic divan. (Cf. D1310.8.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1154.5 | Magic pillow. Papua: Ker 109. |
| D1155 | Magic carpet. *Chauvin V 230 No. 130; Fb "luftrejse" II 457a.—Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 111 No. 39; Chinese: Werner 192; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 62. |
| D1156 | Magic throne. Chauvin V 230 No. 130. |
| D1157 | Magic platform. *Chauvin V 230 No. 130. |
| D1158 | Magic key. *Type 531. |
| D1161 | Magic stove. *Fb "ovn" II 774a. |
| D1162 | Magic light. *Types 328, 562; *Thompson CColl II 361ff.; *Fb "lys"; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1162.1 | Magic lamp. *Types 561, 301C*; *BP II 544ff.—Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 45. |
| D1162.2 | Magic candle. Type 301C*; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| D1162.2.1 | Hand-of-glory. Magic candle made of criminal's hand. *Kittredge Witchcraft 144f., 463 nn. 50, 55; Penzer III 150; Baker AA old ser. I 51ff.; *Fb "tyvefinger"; *Taylor JAFL XXXI 561.—Irish myth: Cross; England, Ireland, Wales: *Baughman. |
| D1163 | Magic mirror. *Type 709; *BP I 450, 463; *Bolte Reise der Söhne Giaffers 202f.; *Chauvin VIII 191 No. 228; Köhler-Bolte I 334; *Handwb. d. Abergl. IX Nachträge 565—577; *Fb "spejl" III 481a; *MacCulloch Childhood 34—37; *Cox Cinderella 483; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 232.—Icelandic: *Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 244, 331; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 111 No. 39; Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 62; Africa (Vai): Ellis 200 No. 18, (Fjort): Dennett 60 No. 12, (Angola): Chatelain 43, (Mpongwe): Nassau 15 No. 1. |
| D1164 | Magic lock. |
| D1166 | Magic altar. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1167 | Magic quilt. |
| D1170 | Magic utensils and implements. Penzer IV 248. |
| D1171 | Magic vessel. Fb "tønde" III 934b.—Irish: Plummer clxxxv, *Cross. |
| D1171.1 | Magic pot. *Types 565, 591; *Fb "potte" II 866f.; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer I 26ff; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 107, 272; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 220 No. 33, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 40f. No. 4. |
| D1171.1.1 | Magic coffee-pot. Fb "tønde" III 934b. |
| D1171.2 | Magic cauldron. Brown MPh XIV 385.—Irish: Plummer clxxxvi, *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 95, 101, 110; Hindu: Penzer VII 224f. |
| D1171.3 | Magic kettle. *Fb "gryde" I 494b.—Japanese: Mitford 175ff.; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 349 n. 257. |
| D1171.4 | Magic pitcher. *Chauvin V 230 No. 130; Penzer V 3 n. 1; Chinese: Graham. |
| D1171.5 | Magic can. Fb "kande". |
| D1171.6 | Magic cup. Type 301C*; *Fb "sølvbæger" III 736b, "tønde" III 934b, "ønske" III 1178b, "bæger" IV 83a; *Loomis and Lindsay Magic Horn and Cup in Celtic and Grail Tradition (Romanische Forschungen XLV [1931] 66); *Boberg Des Knaben Wunderhorn-Oldenburgerhornet (Festskrift til L. L. Hammerich [København, 1952] 53).—Irish: *Cross, MacCulloch Celtic 171; Welsh: ibid. 202f.; Manx: Hartland Science 156f.; Greek: Fox 86; Icelandic: *Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; Hindu: Penzer I 25. |
| D1171.6.1 | Magic tankard. Chinese: Werner 382. |
| D1171.6.2 | Magic goblet (glass). *Fb "tønde" III 934b.—Irish myth: *Cross; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 213 n. 2. |
| D1171.6.3 | Magic drinking horn. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 593, 596, *Boberg. |
| D1171.6.4 | Magic chalice. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1171.7 | Magic vase: *Chauvin V 259 No. 154; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 348. |
| D1171.7.1 | Magic jar. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 50f. |
| D1171.8 | Magic bottle. *Köhler-Bolte II 471; *Fb "flaske" I 309a; Hartland Science 142.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bouteille", "flacon"; Chinese: Werner 202. |
| D1171.8.1 | Magic cruet. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1171.9 | Magic barrel (cask). *Fb "styrke" III 630a, "tønde" III 934b.—Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 297 No. 6. |
| D1171.10 | Magic bucket. Chinese: Werner 221, 233. |
| D1171.11 | Magic basket. Irish myth: *Cross; Welsh: MacCulloch Celtic 192; Chinese: Werner 233; Tonga: Gifford 113. |
| D1171.12 | Magic basin. *BP II 40 n. 2. |
| D1171.13 | Magic chamber-pot. *BP II 40 n. 2; Eskimo (Greenland): Rink 452. |
| D1171.14 | Magic tub. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1171.15 | Magic urn. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1172 | Magic dish. English: Child I 126. |
| D1172.1 | Magic plate. *Fb "tønde" III 934b. |
| D1172.2 | Magic bowl. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1173 | Magic carving knife. (Cf. D1083.) Magic knife (weapon). English: Child I 266; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 293 n. 1. |
| D1173.1 | Magic razor. Chinese: Werner 366; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 45 (version B). |
| D1174 | Magic box. *Type 561; Cox Cinderella 484 n. 19, 489; *Chauvin V 230 No. 130.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "boоte", "coffre"; Scotch: Macdougall and Calder 161; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 67; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian (Micmac, Maliseet): Thompson CColl II 398f.; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 185, (Angola): Chatelain 45. |
| D1174.1 | Magic box containing castle. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. *320. |
| D1175 | Magic match. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "briquet". |
| D1175.1 | Magic tinder. Fb. "fyrtøj" I 390b.—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "amadou". |
| D1175.2 | Magic fire-steel (flint, strike-a-light). *Type 562. |
| D1176 | Magic key. Fb "nøgle"; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 27, 29, Beal XXI 309; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 221. |
| D1177 | Magic spoon. |
| D1181 | Magic needle. *Type 585; Fb "synеl"; Köhler-Bolte I 187.—Irish myth: Cross; Icelandic: Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "aiguille"; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1182 | Magic pin. *Type 400; *Basset 1001 Contes I 143. |
| D1183 | Magic scissors (shears). Köhler-Bolte I 187; Fb "saks" III 143a.—Irish myth: *Cross; Chinese: Werner 158; Africa (Angola): Chatelain 45 (Version B). |
| D1184 | Magic thread. Köhler-Bolte I 187; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 152. |
| D1184.1 | Magic ball of thread. *Köhler-Bolte I 407; Fb "nøgle". |
| D1184.2 | Magic string. Penzer VI 59ff. |
| D1185 | Magic shuttle. *Type 585. |
| D1186 | Magic spindle. *Types 410, 585; Saintyves Perrault 62. |
| D1187 | Magic awl. BP II 527.—Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 267; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "alène". |
| D1187.1 | Magic auger. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Skaldsk. II, Boberg. |
| D1188 | Magic hone. Icelandic: Snorra Edda Skaldsk. II, Boberg. |
| D1192 | Magic purse. *Types 564, 566, 580*; *Aarne MSFO XXV 116; *Fb "pung", "Fortunatus".—Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "bourse", Hartland Science 174; Arabian: Burton Nights I 215; Hindu: Penzer I 20 n, 25ff. |
| D1193 | Magic bag (sack). *Types 330, 563, 564; *Chauvin V 272 No. 154; Fb "ransel" "pose".—Icelandic: *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "blague"; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 49 No. 330; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 314f. No. 114, 322 No. 92; India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer I 28.—N. A. Indian (Ojibwa, Potawatomi): Skinner JAFL XXVII 98. |
| D1193.1 | Magic bag made from skin of crane (transformed woman). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1194 | Magic umbrella. Chinese: Werner 12, 242. |
| D1195 | Magic soap. Scotch: Macdougall and Calder 277. |
| D1196 | Magic net. Africa (Benga): Nassau 186 No. 24 version 2. |
| D1202 | Magic anvil. Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "enclume"; Chinese: Graham. |
| D1203 | Magic rope. *Type 559; *BP II 539; Chinese: Werner 348; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 216; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 402. |
| D1204 | Magic hoe. Africa (Zulu): Callaway 363. |
| D1205 | Magic shovel. Fb "skovl", "redskab". |
| D1205.1 | Magic spade. Fb "redskab", "spade"; S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 3. |
| D1206 | Magic axe. *Fb "styrke" III 630a, "redskab" III 30a, "økse" III 1171b. —Icelandic: Bуsa Saga 58; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1055; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 107; Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 468. |
| D1206.1 | Magic sickle. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1207 | Magic wheel. *Fb "hjul"; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1207.1 | Destructive "rolling wheel" of druid. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1208 | Magic whip. Fb "pisk".—Chinese: Werner 161. |
| D1209 | Miscellaneous utensils and implements. |
| D1209.1 | Magic bridle. Greek: Fox 40. |
| D1209.2 | Magic saddle. *Fb "guldsadel" I 514b, "ønske" III 1178b. |
| D1209.3 | Magic plow. Fb "plov"; Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1209.4 | Magic hammer. Type 308*; Jewish: Neuman; Korean: Zong in-Sob 144. |
| D1209.5 | Magic fish-hook. |
| D1209.6 | Magic thong. Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 267. |
| D1209.7 | Magic game board (chessboard). Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| D1209.8 | Magic broom. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 152. |
| D1210 | Magic musical instruments. Finnish: Kalevala rune 41; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 176 No. 25. |
| D1211 | Magic drum. India: Thompson-Balys; Indo-Chinese: Scott 283; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 96; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 47, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 90 No. 16, (Benga): Nassau 113 No. 11. |
| D1212 | Magic rattle. Ibo (Nigeria): Thomas 119. |
| D1213 | Magic bell. Fb "kirkeklokke"; *Thompson CColl II 348, 358, 363.—Irish: Plummer clxxvi—clxxvii, *Cross, Beal XXI 328, O'Suilleabhain 88; English: Child I 173, 231, III 235, 244, 519f.; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "cloche"; Jewish: *Neuman; Thompson River: Teit JAFL XXIX 320 No. 11. |
| D1213.1 | Magic gong. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1221 | Magic trumpet. *Aarne MSFO XXV 117; Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 62. |
| D1222 | Magic horn (musical). *Types 566, 569, 592; *BP I 464ff., 470ff., II 470ff.; *Aarne MSFO XXV 117.—Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Child I 15—17, 23, 55, 367; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| D1223 | Magic clarinet. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "clarinette". |
| D1223.1 | Magic flute. (Cf. D1224.) *Type 780; *Fb "fløjte".—Icelandic: Boberg; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Ibo (Nigeria): Thomas 146. |
| D1224 | Magic pipe (musical). *Aarne MSFO XXV 117; *Fb "rotte" III 83a, "ønske" III 1178b; *Type 570, 515*; Penzer III 187.—English: Child I 47; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "pipe"; N. A. Indian (Central Algonquin): Skinner JAFL XXVII 98. |
| D1224.1 | Magic flageolet. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 75 No. 594*. |
| D1225 | Magic whistle. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "sifflet"; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 10; Missouri French: Carrière. |
| D1225.1 | Magic mouth harp. Chinese: Graham. |
| D1231 | Magic harp. Hertz Spielmannsbuch 71, 363; *Fb "harpe" IV 201b; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Child V 482 s.v. "harp"; Greek: Grote I 214; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1231.1 | Magic lyre. Greek: Fox 44 (Amphion). |
| D1232 | Magic lute. Hindu: Tawney I 338 n; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 192, II 859. |
| D1233 | Magic violin (fiddle). *Types 559, 577, 592, 851, 853; Fb "fiol" I 293b, "spille" III 488a; Basset RTP XXVI 266; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "violon"; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer III 187 n. 3; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 280 No. 91; Africa (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 97, 100 No. 18. |
| D1233.1 | Magic musical bow. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1234 | Magic guitar. Chinese: Werner 121; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 231, 278. |
| D1239 | Magic musical instruments—miscellaneous. |
| D1240 | Magic waters and medicines. *Types 331, 513, 551, 576****; *Penzer III 60ff.—Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "guérison"; Greek: Fox 72 (Minos), 112 (Medea and Jason); Arabian: Burton Nights I 124, III 259, V 394, IX 204, S VI 328; Hindu: Tawney I 265, 360, 534, 554, II 4ff., 208, 211; Chinese: Werner 275ff.; Africa (Benga): Nassau 208 No. 33. |
| D1241 | Magic medicine (= charm). Hindu: Tawney II 165; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Benga): Nassau 100, 139, 178, 208 Nos. 7, 15, 24 (version 1), 33, (Ekoi): Talbot 34, 178, 344, 359, (Hottentot): Bleek 55 No. 24, (Zanzibar): Bateman 204 No. 10, (Fang): Nassau 242 No. 9, (Basuto): Jacottet 212 No. 31. |
| D1242 | Magic fluid. See references for D1040.—Chinese: Werner 216. |
| D1242.1 | Magic water. (Note: here are included all references to magic water, whether as a remedy or as another type of magic agent). *Types 590, 613; *Christiansen FFC XXIV 79; *Chauvin VI 202; *Fb "vand", "livets vand"; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) Nos. 34, 328; Köhler-Bolte I 118, 143; Morgan MPh. VI 331; Nitze MPh. VII 145; *MacCulloch Childhood 67ff.—Irish: Plummer cl, clxxviii, clxxx, *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 69, Beal XXI 325; Icelandic: Göngu Hrolfs Saga 309, Boberg; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; Babylonian: Spence 178; Arabian: Burton Nights S VI 213; India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer I 28, III 227f., VI 5, 8, 62; Chinese: Werner 205.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 354 n. 279; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 47. |
| D1242.1.1 | Baptismal water as magic object. *Kittredge Witchcraft 150f., 470 nn. 117—125; England: Baughman. |
| D1242.1.2 | Holy water as magic object. Kittredge Witchcraft 124ff., 449f. nn. 1—33 passim; Irish myth: *Cross; England: Baughman. |
| D1242.2 | Magic potion. Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Юorsteinssaga Vikingssona (FAS II) 394, Flateyarbуk I 279, *Boberg; English: Wells 80 (Sir Tristrem), 145 (Parthenope of Blois), Child V 305b; Greek: Fox 200 (Phaon), *Grote I 219; Africa (Hottentot): Bleek 55 No. 24. |
| D1242.3 | Magic drops. Type 576*****; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1242.4 | Magic oil. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| D1243 | Magic pill. *Chauvin VIII 133 No. 126; India: Thompson-Balys, Meyer Hindu 193, Penzer II 183 n. 1, III 75f, VII 40 n. 1, 41ff., 222f.; Chinese: Werner 134, 159, 184f., 275ff., Eberhard FFC CXX 162. |
| D1244 | Magic salve (ointment). *Type 611: *Fb "salve" III 150b, "øje" III 1166b; Chauvin V 41 No. 388, 146 No. 72; Penzer IV 90 n. 1, IX 45 n. 1; Griffith MLN XXV 102.—Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "onguent"; Greek: Roscher Lexikon s.v. "Achilleus" I 24, *Grote I 219; Chinese: Werner 276f., 281f; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 219 No. 73. |
| D1245 | Magic perfume. *Chauvin V 10 No. 7, 60 No. 19 n. 1. |
| D1246 | Magic powder. Type 726*; Chauvin VI 8 No. 273.—India: Thompson-Balys. Tawney I 378; Chinese: Werner 375; Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 214 No. 73; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 142 No. 20. |
| D1248 | Human liver as medicine. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1250 | Miscellaneous magic objects. |
| D1251 | Magic chain (iron). |
| D1251.1 | Iron chain made by magic. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "chaine". |
| D1252 | Magic metal. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1252.1 | Magic steel. Fb "stеl" III 647b; Penzer II 106 n. 4. |
| D1252.1.1 | Magic iron. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1252.1.2 | Magic nails. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1252.2 | Magic copper. *Zingerle 589. |
| D1252.3 | Magic gold. |
| D1254 | Magic staff. (Cf. D1277.) *Fb "kjæp" II 150—151, "stav" III 541b.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 84, 111, *Boberg; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 302 No. 6; Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 19, *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys, Penzer I 22ff., IX 68f.; Chinese: Graham; Hawaii: Dixon 90; Marquesas: Handy 134; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 145, (Upoto): Einstein 142f., (Bakuba): ibid. 100. |
| D1254.1 | Magic wand. *MacCulloch Childhood 205ff.; *Bolte Reise der Söhne Giaffers 221; Saintyves Perrault 63; *Cox Cinderella 485.—Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Corpus Poeticum Boreale I 115; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "baguette", "sommeil", "navigation"; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 67 No. 510; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 9; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Werner 324, 326.—N. A. Indian (Passamaquoddy): Leland 127, (Chilcotin): Farrand JE II 44 No. 30, (Bella Coola): Boas JE I 54, 57, (Kwakiutl): Boas and Hunt JE III 356, (Mandan): Curtis N. A. Indian V 39ff., (Salishan): Boas Proc. Am. Philosophical Soc. XXXIV 38. |
| D1254.1.1 | Magic pair of sticks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1254.2 | Magic rod. (Cf. D1254.1.) Fb "pilegren"; Krappe MLN LVIII (1943) 515ff.—Irish myth: *Cross; Jewish: *Neuman; Hindu: Penzer I 22ff.; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 87, 107; Hawaii: *Beckwith Myth 466; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 129, (Zulu): Callaway 307. |
| D1254.3 | Magic pestle. Chinese: Eberhard 221; Africa (Tim): Frobenius Atlantis XI 224ff. No. 38, (Fang): Einstein 151. |
| D1254.4 | Magic trident. Greek: *Grote I 180. |
| D1255 | Magic tube. *Chauvin VI 133 No. 286 n. 2. |
| D1256 | Magic ball. *Chauvin V 87 No. 27 n. 2, VII 98 No. 375 n. 3.—Irish myth: Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "boule"; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 315 n. 145b, Thompson CColl II 331 (Osage). |
| D1257 | Magic fishhook. Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "hameçon"; Maori: Dixon 43, Clark 153; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 420. |
| D1258 | Magic bridge. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| D1258.1 | Bridge made by magic. *Types 313, 314; Köhler-Bolte I 195.—Irish myth: *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "pont"; Chinese: Werner 213; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian (Cherokee): Mooney RBAE XIX 319 No. 67, (Quinault): Farrand JE II 115 No. 10. |
| D1261 | Magic cigar. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 56 No. 408*A. |
| D1262 | Magic grinding-stone. Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 81 No. 13. |
| D1262.1 | Magic millstone. Chinese: Eberhard 107. |
| D1263 | Magic mill. *Type 565; BP II 439; Fb "salt", "havet", "kværn" *Dh II 155; Gering Festschrift für Eugen Mogh 37.—Irish: Plummer clxxxvi, *Cross. |
| D1264 | Magic sphere. *Chauvin V 259 No. 154. |
| D1266 | Magic book. *Chauvin V 135, 262, 295; Type 611; *Fb "Cyprianus" I 166—7, "bog", "Cyprian" IV 88f.; Hartland Science 199.—Irish: Plummer clxxviii, *Cross; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 297 No. 29, 314 No. 102; Norwegian: Christiansen Norske Eventyr 90; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: *Neuman; Hindu: Penzer I 37 n. 2, 129f. |
| D1266.1 | Magic writings (gramerye, runes). Child I 28, 48, 362, 391f., II 53ff., 506a; *Hdwb d. Abergl. I 1225; Krappe The Sending (Scandinavian Studies XVII [1943] 297—304).—Irish myth: *Cross, Beal XXI 311, O'Suilleabhain 33; Icelandic: MacCulloch Eddic 46f., 295ff., *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1266.1.1 | Magic ogam writing. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1266.2 | Magic picture. Hdwb. d. Abergl. I 1282 s.v. "Bild"; Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Bild".—Irish: O'Suilleabhain 33; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Werner 139, Graham, Eberhard FFC CXX 233f. |
| D1266.3 | Magic story. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1267 | Magic card. *Köhler-Bolte Zs f. Vksk. VI 62 (to Gonzenbach No. 10);—German Grimm No. 82. |
| D1268 | Magic statue (doll). Basset RTP XXVI 22 (and following numbers passim).—Irish: Beal XXI 312; Italian Novella: Rotunda (D1295); Jewish: *Neuman; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 152; Eskimo (Bering Strait): Nelson RBAE XVIII 494. |
| D1271 | Magic fire. *BP I 440; *Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "Waberlohe"; Panzer Sigfrid 281 s.v. "Waberlohe"; Fb "ild" II 10a.—Irish: Plummer clxvi, cxxxviii, *Cross; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 601, *Boberg; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "feu"; Jewish: *Neuman; Africa (Fang): Tessman 104. |
| D1272 | Magic circle. *Types 810, 815; *Chauvin VII 104 No. 378; *Penzer II 98f., III 201, VI 167 n. 3; Saintyves RTP XXV 113; MacCartney Classical Weekly XXII 175 f.; *Loomis White Magic 100; Harou RTP XXV 294.—Icelandic: Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 237. |
| D1272.1 | Magic line. Irish: Plummer clxxv, *Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 364; Eskimo (Mackenzie Area): Jenness 79, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 177f., (West Hudson Bay): ibid. 308f. |
| D1273 | Magic formula (charm). *Types 676, 677; DeCock Studien 156; Encyc. Religion and Ethics III 392; *Chauvin V 10 No. 7, 60 No. 19 n. 1; *Grendon JAFL XXII 105ff.; *Ohrt Danmarks Trylleformler, ibid. Trylleord Fremmede og Danske; *Hestesko FFC XIX; *Kittredge Witchcraft 31f., 386ff. nn. 71, 72, 90, 104; *Fb "Læsning" II 502f.; Penzer I 138ff.—Irish: Plummer cl, clxxix, *Cross; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "charme", "blessure"; English: Child I 28, 48, 55, 391f., II 441, 445, 450; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 16; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 84 No. 746; Finnish: Kalevala runes 16, 26; Estonian: Loorits Grundzüge I 288f; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 300 No. 10; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.—Cape Verde Islands: Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 9, 61; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 101, 143, (Kaffir): Theal 41 No. 2, 45 No. 2, 30 No. 1, 125, (Ekoi): Talbot 401, (Yoruba): Ellis 253 No. 4, 271, (Basuto): Jacottet 100 No. 15, (Angola): Chatelain 183ff. No. 22.—Eskimo: Rink 107 No. 3. |
| D1273.0.1 | Charm written in blood has magic power. (Cf. D1003.) Fb "blod" IV 47b. |
| D1273.0.2 | Magic spells mixed with Christian prayers. *Kittredge Witchcraft 146, 465 n. 64; *Fb "Fader Vor" I 260.—Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1273.0.3 | Charm sung over flesh chewed by wizard has magic power. Irish myth: Cross. |
| D1273.0.4 | Charm chanted standing on one foot with one eye shut, etc. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| D1273.0.5 | Charm containing name of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1273.1 | Magic numbers. (Cf. Z71.) Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1273.1.1 | Three as magic number. *Hdwb. d. Abergl. s.v. "Drei"; Irish myth: *Cross; French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 8f.; Jewish: Neuman. |
| D1273.1.1.1 | Three on a match (lighting cigarettes or cigars). England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D1273.1.1.2 | Breakage of glass or crockery occurs in threes. One breakage is followed by two more. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| D1273.1.1.3 | Deaths in a community come in threes. One death is shortly followed by two more. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
If you wish to get access to data for projects and research, then please contact us, we do our best to help
How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
Please cite the relevant sources, catalogues, and classification systems, including the Folklore Database, Berezkin-Duvakin Catalogue, ATU, Thompson, alongside the page accessed and the last time accessed. Please respect copyright and licenses.
Editorial annotations and database enhancements © Jonathan Fielder-White licensed under CC BY 4.0. Berezkin-Duvakin derived narrative and metadata licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. Full rights information can be found here.
All rights are reserved in the database structure, selection, arrangement, metadata, classifications, software, interface design, and original editorial content.
Important: The Folklore Database expressly reserves all rights in relation to text and data mining, automated extraction, scraping, machine learning, dataset creation, and the training, development, validation, or improvement of artificial intelligence technologies or systems. No part of this website or database may be scraped, copied, reproduced, harvested, downloaded in bulk, or otherwise used for AI training or commercial data extraction without prior written permission.
Designed and Developed by Jonathan Fielder-White.
© 2024–2026 Crecganford / Jonathan Fielder-White. All rights reserved.