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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 ▲ |
|---|---|
| A751.11 | Other marks on the moon. India: Thompson-Balys; Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 192. |
| A640 | Other means of creating the universe. |
| A820 | Other means of creation of earth. |
| A1689 | Other origins and originators. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2770 | Other plant characteristics. |
| A671.2.2.6 | Other rivers in hell. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman (A671.2.29). |
| A979 | Other stories about stone origins. Tahiti: Henry 341; Marquesas: Handy 132; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 18, 22. |
| A878.1.1 | Other streams from roots of earth-tree. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A2630 | Other types of plant origins. |
| A289 | Other weather-gods. |
| A692.1 | Overseas otherworld in the west. Irish myth: Cross; S. Am. Indian (Guarayú): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 147. |
| A2233.3 | Owl as watchman goes to sleep: does not see by day. He is placed as watchman of wren who is imprisoned in a mousehole. (Cf. A2332.6.6.)—Type 221; *Dh IV 172ff. |
| A2239.3.1 | Owl reveals deity's secret: power of speech removed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2229.3 | Owl will not betray curate: therefore may live in steeple. (Cf. A2433.4.1.)—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 88 No. 98b. |
| A2241.2 | Owl's wings borrowed from rat (or other animal). Dh III 131. |
| A2221.5.1 | Ox helps patriarch who in joy kisses him on the lips: hence no hair on ox's lips. Jewish: bin Gorion Born Judas III 118, 304, *Neuman. |
| A515 | Pair of culture heroes. Amazon tribes: Alexander Lat. Am. 311. |
| A1021.1 | Pairs of animals in ark. Seed of all beings put into ark to escape destruction.—See references to "Sintflutsage" in A1010; also Dh I 267ff.—Irish myth: Cross; Hebrew: Genesis 6:19; Babylonian: Spence 175; Hindu: Keith 147.—Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 85f. |
| A151.4.2 | Palace of gods with door at each end for sun's journey. Virgil Aeneid X line 3. |
| A151.4 | Palaces of the gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 327, 329. |
| A721.4 | Pale sun made right again by using egg, yellow grass, etc. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1331.2.1 | Paradise lost because first woman is seduced. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 43, 61. |
| A1331.2 | Paradise lost because of brother-sister incest. Persian: Carnoy 310. |
| A1331.1.1 | Paradise lost because of forbidden food. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A1331.1 | Paradise lost because of forbidden fruit (drink). (Cf. A1346).—*Dh I 208ff.; *Frazer Old Testament I 45ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 34.—Persian: Carnoy 297; India: Thompson-Balys; Burmese, Indo-Chinese: Scott 265, 289.—Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45; Quiché: Alexander Lat. Am. 171; Yuracare: ibid. 315; Biloxi: Dorsey and Swanton BBAE XLVII 32; African (Baluba): Einstein 199. |
| A1331 | Paradise lost. Original happy state forfeited because of one sin.—*H. Schmidt Die Erzählungen von Paradies und Sündenfall (Tübingen 1931); J. Feidmann Paradies und Sündenfall (1913); *Frazer Old Testament I 45-76; Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; Persian: Carnoy 296, 309; Burmese: Scott Indo-Chin. 265, 269f.; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 43ff., 61. |
| A512 | Parentage of culture hero. (Cf. also A511.1.8.). |
| A1566 | Parents learn how to wean their children. S. A. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 120. |
| A111 | Parents of the gods. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 171. |
| A737.11 | Partial eclipses because of ailments of sun or moon. S. Am. Indian (Mojo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 424. |
| A751.10 | Particular individual is man in the moon. |
| A2241.3 | Partridge's voice borrowed from tortoise. Dh III 132. |
| A2611.0.4 | Parts of body of god transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 188. |
| A2611.0.5 | Parts of human or animal body transformed into plants. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 130f. Nos. 85, 89; S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 128. |
| A1440.3 | Patriarchs because of long life made inventions. Tupper and Ogle Map 4. |
| A2232.7 | Peacock given ugly feet so as to prevent too great arrogance. (cf. A2375.2.2.)—Dh I 196. |
| A2236.2.2 | Peacock has snake carry devil into paradise: cursed with ugly voice and feet. (Cf. A2375.2.2, A2423.1.2.)—Dh I 206. |
| A934.12 | Peacock shows rivers the way to the big valley so they will not go round and round. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2423.1.2 | Peacock's ugly voice. (See A2236.2.2.) |
| A1662 | Peculiar smell of body. |
| A2262.2 | Pegs driven into backs of baboons become tails. (Cf. A2378.9.2, A2378.1.1.)—Bushman (South of Zambesi): Theal 56. |
| A2611.4 | Pepper plant from body of slain person. (Cf. A2686.3.)—Zuсi: Cushing 183. |
| A102.12 | Perfect God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2480 | Periodic habits of animals. |
| 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. |
| A934.11.2 | Person transforms self to river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1142.3 | Persons escape to sky and become thunder. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 96; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 177. |
| A1021.0.1 | Persons excluded from Noah's ark build another ark and sail to Ireland. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1337.0.1.1 | Pestilence brought to man in box by messenger from creator. S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 318. |
| A2622 | Peter lets key of heaven fall: origin of "Heaven Key" (primrose). Peter hears that duplicate key to heaven has been made. In his excitement he lets his key drop to earth. It is returned by an angel. Where it dropped are the "Heaven Keys". (Cf. A2653.)—*Dh II 190. |
| 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. |
| A188.1 | Philandering god. Greek: Grote I 58; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A738.1 | Physical attributes. |
| A526 | Physical characteristics of culture hero (demigod). |
| A144 | Physician of the gods. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A18 | Pictorial representations of creator. |
| A137 | Pictorial representations of gods. (cf. A131). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A132.6.5 | Pigeon-god. Tonga: Gifford 62. |
| A2223.4 | Pike helps Christ cross stream: made king of fishes. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 286. |
| A989.4 | Pile of stones (cairn) marks site of battle. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A977.5.2 | Pile of stones in certain chapel formed of fragments of salmon transformed by saint. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A665.2 | Pillar supporting sky. *Holmberg Baum des Lebens 12ff.—Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 333ff.; Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 334ff. |
| A984 | Pillars of Hercules at Gibraltar set up by Hercules. (Cf. A901.)—Greek: Fox 86. |
| A665.2.0.1 | Pillars supporting sky. Tahiti: Henry 342; Eskimo (Ungava): Turner RBAE XII (266), (Cape York): Rasmussen III 169, (Greenland): Rink 440. |
| A2433.1.3 | Place to live given as patent right to dog. Dh IV 117. |
| A759.7 | Planet Mars lies on moon to impart warmth to her lest she freeze the earth. (Cf. A780). Jewish: Neuman. |
| A780.1 | Planets supervised by angels. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2711.1 | Plant blessed for help at Jesus' birth. Dh II 19f. |
| A2711.3 | Plant blessed for helping holy fugitive. Dh II 58ff.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 197f., 202ff.; Irish: Beal XXI 306. |
| A2711 | Plant blessed for pious act. (Cf. A2221.) |
| A2743 | Plant characteristic because plant belongs to the devil. |
| A2720 | Plant characteristics as punishment. |
| A2710 | Plant characteristics as reward. |
| A2741 | Plant characteristics from accident to original plant. |
| A2742 | Plant characteristics from exchange of qualities. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2734 | Plant characteristics from object thrown by devil. |
| A2731.2 | Plant characteristics from tears. (Cf. A2755.3.1, A2755.3.2.) —Greek: Frazer Apollodorus II 82 n. 2, 86 n. 2. |
| A2731 | Plant characteristics from transformation. |
| A2731.2.1.1 | Plant characteristics from Virgin Mary's milk. England: Baughman. |
| A2731.2.1 | Plant characteristics from Virgin Mary's tears. *Dh II 255ff. |
| A2721.4 | Plant cursed for betraying holy fugitive. Dh II 58ff. |
| A2721.2 | Plant cursed for disservice at crucifixion. (Cf. A2711.2.) —Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3222, Legends No. 323. |
| A2721.1 | Plant cursed for disservice to child Jesus. (Cf. A2772.2.) —Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 90 No. 130a (rush). |
| A2721 | Plant cursed for impious act. |
| A2615.2 | Plant from mother's milk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2613 | Plant from spittle. |
| A2723 | Plant punished for discontent. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 134 No. 91. |
| A2722 | Plant punished for disobedience. |
| A2726 | Plant punished for tale-telling. |
| A2725 | Plant punished for tardiness. |
| A2721.3 | Plant punished for ungracious answer to holy person. |
| A2711.4.3 | Plant receives name because of service to Virgin Mary. German: Grimm No. 207. |
| A2722.1 | Plantain disobeys mother: hence bears but one stalk. (Cf. A2771.2.)—Mpongwe: Nassau 76 No. 16. |
| A2602 | Planting the earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2634 | Plants created by direct divine agency. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Viracocha): Steward-Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 550, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 41. |
| A2611 | Plants from body of slain person or animal. Dh I 79.—India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 23, 129; S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 128, (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473. |
| A2625 | Plants from clothing of deity. (Cf. A2615.)—Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 282; Tahiti: Henry 338. |
| A2611.0.2 | Plants from foetus or body of stillborn child. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2611.0.1 | Plants from grave of dead person or animal. India: Thompson-Balys; Mono-Alu: Wheeler 67; S. Am. Indian (Brazil): Oberg 109, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 38, (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359f., (Cashinawa): Métraux ibid. 686. |
| A2612 | Plants from tears. |
| A2617 | Plants from transformed person (animal). |
| A2621.2 | Plants from tread of goddess. Greek myth: Grote I 5 (Aphrodite). |
| A2621 | Plants from tread of holy person. Dh II 7.—Japanese: Anesaki 240. |
| A2620 | Plants originate from experience of holy person. |
| A773.1 | Pleiades a princess and six suitors among whom she could not choose. *Köhler-Bolte I 439f. |
| A773.6 | Pleiades as swarm of bees. S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 483. |
| A773.5 | Pleiades from hunters marooned in sky after felling world-tree. S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 25, BBAE CXLIII (1) 366. |
| A773.3 | Pleiades girls who died of grief. Greek: Fox 248. |
| A773.4 | Pleiades seven illegitimate children. *Fb "pige" II 816b. |
| A773.2 | Pleiades six repudiated wives. They have been cast out for apparent infidelity.—Hindu: Keith 140. |
| A432.0.2 | Plowman god. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A63.7.1 | Poisonous water created by the devil. Irish myth: Cross (A63.7). |
| A164.5 | Polyandry among the gods. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A164.3 | Polygamy among the gods. Irish myth: Cross; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 186. |
| A2721.2.1.2 | Poplar cursed for serving as cross. (Cf. A2762.2.)—U.S.: Baughman. |
| A2681.3 | Poplars from weeping maidens transformed by god. *Frazer Pausanias II 72. |
| A2733 | Poppy characteristics from series of reincarnations. Opium produces each of the appropriate qualities. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2432.4 | Porcupine's dwelling. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 246. |
| A15.4.1 | Potter as creator. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A165.2.4 | Powers of nature (sun, moon, etc.) as God's messengers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A631 | Pre-existing world of gods above. Such a world is assumed before the real creation of the universe. Though this belief is not explicitly set forth in many mythologies, it seems to be implied in most of the North American Indian systems. See, for example, motif A31, Creator's grandmother.—Jewish: *Neuman.—Samoa: Dixon 18f.; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 45. |
| A156 | Precious properties of the gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 266; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2282 | Present habitat of animals result of ancient quarrel. (Cf. A2433.3.3, A2433.3.4, A2433.3.21, A2433.6.1.)—Benga: Nassau 202 No. 32; Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 372, 381. |
| A1005 | Preservation of life during world calamity. (Cf. A1020, A1038, A1045.)—Persian: Carnoy 308; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 484. |
| A1005.1 | Preservation of life of certain persons in Ireland during Flood. (Cf. A1006.5.)—Irish myth: Cross. |
| A1355.3 | Previously men menstruated. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A972.1.2 | Priest stamps on stone to prove truth of pope; print is still visible. England: Baughman. |
| A654 | Primary elements of universe. (Earth, air, fire, water, etc.).—Jewish: *Neuman; Chinese: Werner 84. Cf. the early Greek philosophers. |
| A605 | Primeval chaos. *Sayce Encyc. Religion and Ethics III 363 s.v. "Chaos". —Greek: Roscher I 871 s.v. "Chaos"; Icel.: De la Saussaye 340f.; Jewish: Neuman; Egyptian: Müller 47; Babylonian: Spence 71; Japanese: Anesaki 222.—Pima: Alexander N. Am. 177; Mixtec: Alexander Lat. Am. 86; Marquesas Is.: Dixon 10 n. 13; Maori: ibid. 6ff.; Nias Is.: ibid. 167; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 42; Tahiti: Henry 336, 340. |
| A605.2 | Primeval cold. Icel.: Boberg. |
| A1211.8 | Primeval crab pulls first five living creatures out of his side. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A605.1 | Primeval darkness. S. Am. Indian (Guaraní): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 93; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 312; Africa (Luba): Donohugh Africa V 180. |
| A856.1 | Primeval earth hardened by wind. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A955.3.2.1 | Primeval hero moves islands into their present position. *Frazer Pausanias II 48.—Japanese: Anesaki 248ff., Ikeda; Marshall Is.: Davenport 222. |
| A1277.2 | Primeval human pair allowed to bear all children they wish. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 67. |
| A1270.1 | Primeval human pair live in innocence. Tonga: Gifford 15. |
| A1211.6 | Primeval human pair spring from two drops of urine of creator (woman from half-drop). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1234.1.1 | Primeval human pair spring from womb of Mother Earth. (Cf. A1270.)—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1279 | Primeval human pair—miscellaneous. |
| A1270 | Primeval human pair. India: *Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Apapocuva-Guarani): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 138, (Yuracare): Métraux ibid. 144, (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359. |
| A810.2 | Primeval water to subside in a specified time. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 55. |
| A810 | Primeval water: In the beginning everything is covered with water.—**Dh I 1—89 passim; Gaster Oldest Stories 69.—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 325—26; Finnish: Kalevala rune 1; Egyptian: Müller 48; Babylonian: Spence 71; Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 313ff.; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 786; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Batak: Voorhoeve Oversicht 63ff.; Marquesas: Handy 122; Marshall Is.: Davenport 221; Oceanic: Dixon 8 n. 7 (Maori), 18f. (Samoa), 20 (Society Is., Tonga), 105 (Admiralty Is., Polynesia, Indonesia, Micronesia), 157 (Minahassa), 158f. (Borneo), 248f. (Marshall Is., Yap), 270 (Arunta); Bushongo: Werner African 144, African: Stanley 5; S. Am. Indian (Guarayu): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 437.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 29, Alexander N. Am 260 (Haida), (Calif.): Gayton and Newman 53; Mixtec: Alexander Lat. Am. 86; Quiché: ibid. 160. |
| A642.1 | Primeval woman cut in pieces: houses, etc., made from her body. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1727 | Primordial animal mutilated to produce present form. Maori: Clark 50; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 135, 436, 500. |
| A1220.1 | Progressive degeneration to present race of men. Greek: *Grote I 64. |
| A1084 | Prophecy of defeat in battle as sign of end of the world. Jewish: Moreno Esdras (M324.1). |
| A1016 | Pseudo-scientific explanations of the flood. S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684; Tuamotu: Beckwith Myth 267. |
| A2631.1.1 | Punishment for Fall of Man: thistles, etc. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2631.1 | Punishment for first murder: thistles, etc. Until murder was committed, only useful plants grew on earth; since then, thistles. (Cf. A2688.1.)—Dh I 248. |
| A1174.3 | Purchase of night. Originally no night. Culture hero goes to distant land and buys it. He introduces sleep, etc. Cock to crow for day. (Cf. B755, J2272.1.). —Banks Is.: Dixon 113. |
| A102.11 | Purity of God. Jewish: Neuman. |
| 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. |
| A499.1 | Python-goddess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A917 | Quarrel between earth and waters. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2281.1.2 | Quarrel of dog and cat about which was higher caste. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2575 | Quarrels introduced among animals. Africa (Congo): Weeks 205 No. 2. |
| A161.3 | Queen of the gods. Greek: Grote I 10; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 13, chap. II passim. |
| A1035 | Quenching the world-fire. |
| A2238.1 | Rabbit (frog) eats seed-grain from fields: nose closed during sowing season. (Cf. A2335.2.4.)—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 21 No. 119; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 290. |
| A522.1.2 | Rabbit as culture hero. Central Algonquian tribes: Thompson PMLA XXXVII 130ff. |
| A2218.7 | Rabbit burns self under chin when he steals an ember. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 109. |
| A2211.2 | Rabbit laughs: cause of hare-lip. (Cf. A2216.3, A2234.4, A2342.1.)—*Type 47A; *BP III 75 n. 1.—Finnish: Aarne FFC XXV 144 No. 35; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 89 No. 71; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A2252.1 | Race of animals to see where each shall live. (Cf. A2433.1.1.)—*Dh III 145. |
| A2252.3 | Race of culture hero with ostrich: ostrich loses beautiful feathers. (Cf. A2402.2.)—Dh III 145. |
| A2252.2 | Race of ox and horse: ox must labor. Horse wins and ox must serve as draft animal. (Cf. A2515.1.)—*Dh III 144. |
| A1614.2 | Races dark-skinned from bathing after white men. All peoples bathe in the river, the white man first, then in turn, the Spaniard, the Indian, and the negro—each becoming darker because of the condition of the water.—N. A. Indian (Biloxi): Swanton BBAE XLVII 32; Carib: Alexander Lat. Am. 271; American Negro: Harris Remus 163; Africa (Loango): Pechuël-Loesche 268, (Cameroon): Rosenhuber 57. Cf. Dh. I 247 (Danish). |
| A813 | Raft in primeval sea. Creator is on the raft and there creates the earth. (Cf. A812.)—India: Thompson-Balys; Sumatra: Dixon 162. |
| A1131.4 | Rain from container in sky. Gaster Thespis 192; Eskimo (Ungava): Turner RBAE XI 266, (Labrador): Hawkes GSCan XIV 153, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 600, (East Greenland): Holm 95; S. Am. Indian (Chamacoco, Ashluslay): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366. |
| A1131.5 | Rain from rain-god (rain spirit). See all references to A287.—Greek: Fox 159 (Zeus); S. Am. Indian (Toba, Chamacoco, Mataco): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, MAFLS XL 26f. |
| A1131.3 | Rain from sea in upper world. Fb "hav" IV 203a.—Jewish: Neuman; Eskimo (East Greenland): Rasmussen I 81; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 26, (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684. |
| A1131.1 | Rain from tears. Jewish: Neuman; Ekoi: Talbot 344; Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 448; Maori: Clark 19. |
| A1131.1.1 | Rain from urine. Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 61, (Central Eskimo): Boas RBAE VI 600, (East Greenland): Rasmussen I 100; Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 142. |
| A1035.1 | Rain invoked to destroy world-fire. Maori, Melanesian: Dixon 49. |
| A1131.4.1 | Rain kept in waterskin dragged along sky floor. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1131.6 | Rain shed by stars. Gaster Thespis 212. |
| A287.0.1 | Rain-god and wind-god brought back in order to make liveable weather. Have been banished by sun-god.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A287 | Rain-god. Gaster Thespis 122f.; *Smith Dragon vii ff., 77f., 86.—Greek: Fox 159 (Zeus); Hindu: Keith 39, 135, 233; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 98, 412; Chinese: Werner 206; Maya: Alexander Lat. Am. 134; Antilles: ibid. 25; Aztec: ibid. 71; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 97; Samoa ibid. 19; Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 310. |
| A287.1 | Rain-goddess. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.1 | Rainbow as bow of deity. Gaster Thespis 261 n. 21; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 443f. |
| A791.10 | Rainbow as covenant between creator and men. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A791.2 | Rainbow as snake. African: Werner African 234; S. Am. Indian (Moré): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 406, (Ashluslay): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 366, (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 38, (Vilela): ibid. 40. |
| A791.8 | Rainbow comes out of an anthill. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.6 | Rainbow from gods' emptying their drinking cups. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.4 | Rainbow has three colors. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 329. |
| A791.5 | Rainbow is a transformed king; the lesser rainbow is the king's wife. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.7 | Rainbow is horse of rain-god. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A791.8.1 | Rainbow lives in a hole. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 38. |
| A791.3 | Rainbow made as bridge by the gods. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 329. |
| A288 | Rainbow-goddess. Greek: Fox 241 (Iris).—Chibcha: Alexander Lat. Am. 204. |
| A1131.2 | Rainy weather sent by saint as punishment. *Dh II 176ff. |
| A625.2 | Raising of the sky. Originally the sky is near the earth (usually because of the conjunction of the sky-father and earth-mother). It is raised to its present place. —Gaster Oldest Stories 133; Egyptian: Müller 30; Babylonian: Spence 81, 114; Mongolian: Holmberg Siberian 330; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 97.—Indonesian: Dixon 36, 178 nn. 124—133, (Rotti) Jonker Rottineesche Texten No. 58; Pleasant Island (Micronesia): Dixon 250; Central and Western Polynesia, Hawaii, Samoa: ibid. 50f.; Maori: ibid. 31; Chatham Is., Cook Group, Society Is., Samoa, Union Group, Hawaii: ibid. 35; Maori: Clark 13, 15, 171; Philippine: Gifford 23; Tonga: Gifford 18, 23.—N. A. Indian (Mohave): Alexander N. Am. 179; S. Am. Indian (Aztec): Alexander Lat. Am. 93, (Bakairi): ibid. 313, Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 348, (Botocudo): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 540, (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684, (Yuracare): Métraux ibid. 504.—African: Frobenius Atlantis VII 304. |
| A625.2.3 | Raising the sky: striking with broom. Old woman's hump strikes clouds as she sweeps. She strikes at sky with broom and thus raises it.—India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A727 | Raising the sun. Originally low, it is raised little by little by conjurors. —Cherokee: Alexander N. Am. 60; Navaho: ibid. 167ff. |
| A132.14 | Ram-god. Icel.: Boberg; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A318 | Rank of the gods in Hades. Chinese: Werner 98. |
| A2211.14 | Rat defecates on octopus's head: origin of tubercles on head. Tonga: Gifford 206. |
| A1435.2.1 | Raths marked out with brooch. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A13.2.1 | Raven as creator. Eskimo: Nelson RBAE XVIII 454; Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 218. |
| A522.2.2 | Raven as culture hero. Krappe "Arturus Cosmocrator" Speculum 1945, 405ff.—Irish myth: Cross; N. A. Indian: *Boas RBAE XXXI 567ff. |
| A2232.10 | Raven attempts to imitate dove: punished with awkward gait. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2218.1 | Raven caught in smoke-hole: hence is black. (Cf. A2411.2.1.5.)—Dh III 72, 77ff.—N. A. Indian: *Boas RBAE XXXI 652, (Tahltan): Teit JAFL XXXII 203 No. 1 (3). |
| A2234.1.1 | Raven does not return to ark in obedience to Noah: black color is resulting punishment. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2234.1 | Raven does not return to Noah: must suffer thirst and break bill. (Cf. A2231.2.1, A2411.2.1.5, A2435.4.3.)—Variant: he is cursed to be black or to eat carrion. *Köhler-Bolte I 3; Dh I 284; Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2218.6 | Raven singes feet on hot stones: why its wings clap when it flies. (Cf. A2442.2.1.)—Dh III 72.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 17 No. 91. |
| A165.1.1 | Ravens as attendants of god. Grimm Deutsche Mythologie I 122.—Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 65, Boberg. |
| A2223.7 | Ravens show Adam how to bury dead: are born with white feathers. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A5 | Reason for creation. |
| A739.4 | Reason for variations in seasonal heat of sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1621 | Reasons for difference in population sizes in different areas. New Guinea: Ker. 138. |
| A1217.1 | Rebel angels oppose creation of man. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| A54 | Rebel angels. |
| A63.7 | Rebel god is author of all poisonous things. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 61. |
| A162.8 | Rebellion of lesser gods against chief. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 60, 118, 155. |
| A162.1.0.1 | Recurrent battle (everlasting fight). (cf. A165.7.). Irish myth: Cross. |
| A2411.1.6.3 | Red color of bush-buck. From blood. (Cf. A2219.1.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 366 No. 17. |
| A2215.4 | Red fruit thrown at rail's (bird's) head: hence red lump on head. (Cf. A2321.8.)—Banks Is: Dixon 144. |
| A165.1.3 | Red sea-bird god's pet. Tahiti: Henry 180. |
| A651.1.1.2 | Region above the three worlds. Hindu: Penzer II 242. |
| A1131.0.1 | Regulation of rains. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| A1172.1 | Regulation of sunshine. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1128 | Regulation of winds. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1545.1 | Regulations for sacrifices. Hebrew: Leviticus ch. 1-7; Greek: *Grote I 25f., 28; Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 64, 70, 198, 397; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 238. |
| A1101.1.1 | Reign of peace and justice (under certain king). Icel.: Herrmann Saxo II 377; Irish myth: Cross; Persian: Carnoy 300, 305; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Ferguson 33. |
| A787 | Relation of the planets to human life. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A738.2.1 | Religious sun and moon. Jewish: Neuman. |
| A74 | Reluctant creator. |
| A564 | Remarkable longevity of culture heroes. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A1006 | Renewal of world after world calamity. Icel.: De la Saussaye 352, Boberg; Jewish: *Neuman.—S. Am. Indian (Bakairi): Lévi-Strauss BBAE CXLIII (3) 347, (Namicuara): Lévi-Strauss ibid. 369. |
| A1414.7 | Repository of fire. |
| A13.4 | Reptile as creator. |
| A1027 | Rescue from deluge by fish. Hindu: Keith 75, 99. |
| A193 | Resurrection of gods. Chinese: Werner 99. |
| A566.1 | Return of mortal reincarnation of celestial being to the country of the gods after his mission has been accomplished on earth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A1101.2 | Reversal of nature in former age. |
| A106.1 | Revolt of bad gods against good. Babylonian: Spence 75. |
| A106.2 | Revolt of evil angels against God. Jensen Dania II 180; Olrik ibid. II 67; Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3002, Legends Nos. 5, 6; Jewish: *Neuman; Irish: Beal. XXI 323. |
| A106.2.1 | Revolting devil banished to hell. India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman. |
| A2247.3 | Rhinoceros exchanges his red hide for hippopotamus's black. (Cf. A2411.1.6.2., A2411.1.6.7.)—Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 372 No. 22. |
| A2238.2 | Ring-dove eats man's grain: man may kill him. Similarly francolin and guinea fowl. Ila (Rhodesia): Smith and Dale 351 No. 6. |
| A2431.3.3 | Ring-dove's nest. Exchanged with gull. (See A2247.)—Dh III 124. |
| A939.1 | River bursts from well in pursuit. |
| A934.7 | River bursts from well in pursuit. Irish myth: Cross. |
| A657 | River connecting earth and upper and lower worlds. Norse: MacCulloch Eddic 304, 313; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian. |
| A511.1.1.1 | River flows from corpse of mythical mother of culture hero. S. Am. Indian (Amuesha): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 131. |
| A933.1 | River from the slaver of the Fenris-wolf. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 328; cf. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| A934.11 | River from transformation. |
| A933 | River from urine of goddess (giantess).—Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: Herrmann Nordische Mythologie 368, Boberg; French: Sébillot France II 327ff.; Sudanese: Frobenius Atlantis VI 219; India: Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 15 No. 7. |
| A933.2 | River from vagina of first woman. S. A. Indian (Paressi): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 359. |
| A425.1 | River goddess. Irish myth: Cross; Hindu: Penzer II 189 n. 1; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| A671.2.2.2 | River in hell filled with weapons. Icel.: MacCulloch Eddic 320, 321. |
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