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Stith Thompson Motif Index

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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.

5,810 motifs

Page 12 of 24 · 250 per page
Thompson reference ▲ Description
A1270.1 Primeval human pair live in innocence. Tonga: Gifford 15.
A1271 Origin of first parents.
A1271.1 Sun, moon, and stars bring forth first parents. Sun and moon beget son; morning and evening star beget daughter; these, the first parents, are at first without understanding, but it is awakened later by demigods.—Pawnee: Alexander N. Am. 110.
A1271.2 Sun and moon beget stones and birds: these transformed to first parents. Baining of New Britain: Dixon 110.
A1271.3 First parents children of god. Persian: Carnoy 294; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 88.
A1271.4 First parents originate from gold which is from body of first man. Born fifteen years old.—Persian: Carnoy 294.
A1273 Twin first parents. Persian: Carnoy 294f.
A1273.1 Incestuous first parents. India: *Thompson-Balys; Philippine: Dixon 171f.
A1275 Creation of first man's (woman's) mate. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1275.1 Creation of first woman from man's rib. *Dh I 115ff.; *Frazer Old Testament I 9f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman.—Spanish Exempla: Keller; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 34, 36ff., 52, 65; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 379; Hawaiian: Dixon 24; cf. Central Caroline Is.: ibid. 251, Beckwith Myth 43, 46.
A1275.1.1 Deity creates princess from prince's body and gives her to him. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1275.2 First man split in two to form mate. (Cf. A1225.1.)—Jewish: Neuman; Hindu: Carnoy 316.
A1275.3 Of ten original men one magically changes sex. New Hebrides: Dixon 107; Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 49.
A1275.4 Creator makes woman and then begets man by her. New Zealand: Dixon 24f.; Society Is.: ibid. 25; Marquesas: ibid. 26.
A1275.5 Man creates a woman from melted butter, sour milk, sour cream and curds offered on the waters. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1275.6 First woman's mate made from transformed tree. S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 144.
A1275.7 First man created from nothing wanders until he finds mate. Eskimo (Ungava): Turner RBAE XI 261.
A1275.8 Why Eve was not made at first along with Adam. Irish myth: Cross.
A1275.9 First man descends on earth, falls in love with and marries a fairy. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1275.10 First created man catches woman in his snare. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1276 Man chosen as best gift by primeval women. In beginning only women on earth. Deity kills one by accident and promises anything as reparation. They choose man.—Ekoi: Talbot 98.
A1277 Offspring of first parents.
A1277.1 First parents devour offspring. Persian: Carnoy 297.
A1277.2 Primeval human pair allowed to bear all children they wish. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 67.
A1277.3 Son of first human couple murdered by tiger sent by god; his head becomes the sun, his chest the moon, and his blood gives the red earth its color. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1277.4 First man and woman bring in children and clothe them. Eskimo (Cape York): Rasmussen III 47.
A1279 Primeval human pair—miscellaneous.
A1279.1 Of first parents husband so hideous he is kept hidden. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1280 First man (woman). Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 276, 280f.; Tahiti: Beckwith Myth 120; Easter Is.: Métraux Ethnology 315.
A1281 Condition of first man (woman).
A1281.1 First man covered with horny substance. (Cf. A1310.1.)—*Dh I 225; Jewish: Neuman.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 34; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 376.
A1281.2 Man at first covered with hair. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 34; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 383.
A1281.2.1 Change of animal and human skin in ancient times. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1281.3 Man at first naked. Irish myth: Cross; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1281.4 Men originally self-luminous. Jewish: Neuman; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 385.
A1281.5 First man created circumcised. Jewish: Neuman.
A1281.6 Adam at first nameless. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A1281.6.1 Adam's name composed of initial letters of four stars from the four quarters of the heavens. Irish myth: Cross.
A1282 The mother of men. Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 93.
A1282.1 Mother of the world gives birth to three sons. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1285 Activities of first man.
A1285.1 First man made chief over whole world. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 44.
A1285.1.1 In response to Adam's prayer, God sends him to earth to be father of mankind. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1290 Creation of man—other motifs.
A1291 Man created by supernatural creature, not deity.
A1291.1 Man created by angels. Jewish: Neuman.
A1293 Devil in God's absence puts sickness in Adam's body. Dh I 98ff.
A1295 Creation in covered vessel. Men (or animals) created in a basket or from a bundle, or from under a blanket.—N. A Ind.: Kroeber JAFL XXI 223; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684.
A1296 Multiplication of man by fragmentation. S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 406.
A1297 First human being killed by jealous brothers (reptiles and insects). India: Thompson-Balys.
A1300 Ordering of human life. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1301 Men at first as large as giants. Dh I 242ff.; Irish myth: Cross; Greek: *Grote I 5; Jewish: Neuman.
A1310 Arrangement of man's bodily attributes.
A1310.1 Change in bodily form at fall of man. Adam's body was formerly horn-like. (Cf. A1281.1.)—Dh I 225.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3035, Balys Legends Nos. 34, 45—49.
A1310.2 Assembling the body. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1310.3 Why men are clothed in skin. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1310.4 Why women have marks on the belly. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1311 Origin of hands and feet. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1311.1 The lizard hand. Man's hand is modeled on that of the lizard.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 288 n. 59; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 56.
A1311.2 Why God changed right hand into left. Man loses hand with which he gives devil a box on ears.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 19.
A1311.3 Origin of fingernails. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1312 Origin of human skeleton.
A1312.1 Origin of knee-caps. A stone that magically joins self to woman's body.—Ekoi: Talbot 394.
A1312.2 Why an uneven number of ribs. Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 83 Nos. 21, 22.—Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 226 (floating ribs).
A1313 Origin of sex-organs.
A1313.0.1 Origin of eunuchs. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1313.0.2 Origin of sex differentiations. Africa (Loango): Pechuël-Loesche 267.
A1313.1 Origin of male sex-organs. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 21, XXXIII 52 No. 21; India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman.—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 141 No. 14; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3040, Balys Legends Nos. 50-57; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 83f. Nos. 28-30; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 84 No. 21.—Plains Ojibwa: Skinner JAFL XXXII 283; Plains Cree: Skinner JAFL XXIX 351.
A1313.2 Origin of female sex-organs. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 22, XXXIII 52 No. 22; India: *Thompson-Balys; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 141 No. 14; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3040, Balys Legends Nos. 50-57; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 83f. Nos. 27, 29, 30; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 84 No. 22.
A1313.2.1 Origin of clitoris. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1313.3 Misplaced genitalia. Originally genitals are misplaced. They are properly arranged by the culture hero.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 56f.; India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 288 n. 59a.; Hatt Asiatic Influences 84f.
A1313.3.1 Vaginal teeth broken. Women originally had toothed vaginas. Culture hero breaks teeth so that women will be harmless to men. (See practically all references to F547.1.1, Vagina Dentata.)—S. Am. Indian (Toba, Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 99, 105, Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 367.
A1313.4 Origin of women's breasts. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 20; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 83 No. 27; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 53ff.; India: Thompson-Balys.—S. Am. Indian (Apapocuva-Guarani): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 137.
A1313.4.1 Women at first with breasts on their foreheads. S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503.
A1313.5 Origin of placenta. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1315 Origin of hair and beard. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1315.1 Why men become gray-headed. Dh I 314.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 18.
A1315.2 Origin of bald heads. Christensen Molboerne 212 No. 70; Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 17, XXXIII 52 No. 17; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 82 No. 20; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 84 No. 17; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1315.3 Origin of beard. *Dh I 228ff.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 5 Nos. 13, 14, XXXIII 52 No. 13; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 83 Nos. 23, 24; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 141 No. 11; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 58-62, 70.
A1315.4 Origin of hair around mouth and eyes. Original dispute between Hair and Stomach. Stomach compelled to stay on inside of man. Hair stands on guard at mouth and eyes to see that Stomach does not escape.—Ekoi: Talbot 394.
A1315.5 Origin of pubic hairs. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1315.6 Origin of eyelashes. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1316 Origin of facial features. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1316.0.1 Man at first with two faces, separated at birth of first woman. Jewish: Neuman.
A1316.1 Distribution of noses. The earlier comers receive big noses, the later small.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 5 No. 15.
A1316.1.1 Forming of the nose. Nose was made from clay taken from the posterior of the already created man.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 35.
A1316.2 Why men blink. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1316.3 Origin of eyes. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1316.3.1 Distribution of eyes. Jewish: Neuman.
A1316.3.2 Why there are one-eyed women. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 104.
A1316.3.3 Men originally blind: eyes opened by accident. Africa (Dahomey): Einstein 18f.
A1316.4 Origin of ears. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1316.5 Origin of tongue. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1316.6 Origin of teeth. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1317 Origin of urine and excreta. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319 Origin of other bodily attributes.
A1319.1 Origin of Adam's apple. Forbidden fruit sticks in Adam's throat.—*Dh I 208ff.; *Fb "Adamsæble" IV 4.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 5 No. 16, XXXIII 52 No. 16; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 35 No. 10; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 34; U.S.: Baughman; Jewish: Neuman.
A1319.2 Why men lack tails. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 117 No. 72; Piegan: Michelson JAFL XXIX 409.
A1319.3 Why ear-wax is inside the ear. Cameroons: Gantenbein 69ff., Lederbogen Mitt. d. Sem. f. orient. Spr. IV 175f. No. 11.
A1319.4 Why the posterior of man is large. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 35.
A1319.5 Origin of the liver. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319.6 Origin of blood. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319.7 Why the center of man's eye is black: blackened by spirits to make themselves invisible. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319.8 Origin of sweat. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319.9 Origin of sneezing. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319.10 Origin of itching. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319.11 Origin of the sensation of tickling. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319.12 Originally man rejuvenated himself by snake-like change of skin. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 411.
A1319.12.1 Why man does not change his skin: ancient contest lost by toad, representing man, won by lizard. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1319.13 Why man's neck is its present size. Marshall Is.: Davenport 231.
A1319.14 Origin of man's skin. Jewish: Neuman.
A1320 Determination of span of life. *Köhler-Bolte I 42.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 288 n. 60b.
A1321 Men and animals readjust span of life. At first, thirty years are given to all animals and to man. For the animals it is too long, for man too short. Man is given a portion of animals' lives. Years 1—30 vigorous (man's own); 30—48 burdens and blows (ass's); 48—60 no teeth (dog's); 60—70 foolish (monkey's).—*BP III 290 (Gr. No. 176); *Fb "menneske" II 577b; Halm Aesop No. 173; Wesselski Bebel II 135 No. 103.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3060, Balys Legends Nos. 113f.; India: *Thompson-Balys.
A1321.1 Why children learn to walk later than animals. African (Cameroon): Mansfield 231, 237.
A1322 Determination of relation between birth-rate and death-rate. Japanese: Anesaki 224.
A1323 Long span of life for first man. Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 108.
A1325 Short span of life for first men. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 116, 411 s.v. "Alter."
A1326 Why babies die so easily. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 103.
A1330 Beginnings of trouble for man. Shasta and Athapascan: Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 225; Africa (Congo): Weeks 205.
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.
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.
A1331.1.1 Paradise lost because of forbidden food. India: *Thompson-Balys.
A1331.2 Paradise lost because of brother-sister incest. Persian: Carnoy 310.
A1331.2.1 Paradise lost because first woman is seduced. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 43, 61.
A1333 Confusion of tongues. Originally all men speak same language. Because of a sin they come to speak different languages.—*Frazer Old Testament I 384ff.; Jewish: Neuman; Irish myth: Cross.—India: Thompson-Balys; Chin (Indo-China): Scott 266f.; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 365.—N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 285 n. 53; Maya: Alexander Lat. Am. 132.
A1333.1 Confusion of tongues partly due to lack of understanding of difference between the word for "stick" and the word for "stone." Irish myth: Cross.
A1335 Origin of death. S. S. Cohon The Origin of Death (Journal of Jewish Lore and Philosophy [1919]); Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham; Siberian: Holmberg Siberian 377; Japanese: Anesaki 224, 233; Burmese: Scott IndoChinese 264.—Africa (Angola): Wagener Afrikanische Parallelen 9ff., Chatelain 249, (Bushman): Bleek and Lloyd 60, (Congo): Weeks 217 No. 12, (Ekoi): Talbot 177, (Liberian): Bundy JAFL XXXII 407f., (Fang): Trilles 131.—Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 178; Maori: Dixon 54; Australian: ibid. 285; Melanesian: ibid. 117f. *n. 53; Micronesian: ibid. 252f.; Indonesian: ibid. 170 (Borneo), 174, *182; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 43; Raratonga: ibid. 158; Banks Is.: ibid. 61.—N. A. Indian: R. Dangel Mythen vom Ursprung dies Todes bei den Indianern Nordamerikas (Mitt. der Anthrop. Gesellschaft in Wien LVIII [1928] 341—374); *Krappe Nieuw Theologisch Tijdschrift (1928) 242ff.; *Thompson Tales 284 n. 51; Chitimacha: Swanton JAFL XXX 476; Sinkyone: Kroeber JAFL XXXII 346; Tahltan: Teit *JAFL XXXII 206f.; Calif. Indian: Gayton and Newman 64; Eskimo (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XX 486, (Cape York): Rasmussen III 48, (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 173; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 171, (Cubeo): Goldman BBAE CXLIII (3) 798, (Yuracare): Métraux ibid. (3) 503, (Warrau): Kirchoff ibid. (3) 880.
A1335.1 Origin of death from falsified message. *Dh III 22; *Wesselski Theorie 43; Gaster Oldest Stories 91.—African: Werner African 160ff., 167, (Hottentot): Bleek 69 No. 31, 71 No. 32, 72 No. 33, 74 No. 35, (Basuto): Jacottet 46 No. 6, (Gold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 129 No. 23, (Togo): Einstein 5, (Sandeh): Casati I 222; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684, (Tropical Forests): Lowie ibid. (3) 55.
A1335.1.1 Origin of death: wrong messenger goes to God. Wesselski Theorie 44.
A1335.2 Origin of death from bad creator's unsuccessful imitation. The bad creator attempts in vain to endow his creations with life like the good creator. Fails and thus introduces death.—Banks Is.: Dixon 106; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 61.
A1335.3 Origin of death from unwise choice. Choice between two bundles, one containing tempting articles, the other everlasting life. People choose the large bundle and lose everlasting life.—Congo: Weeks 218 No. 13.
A1335.4 Origin of death when early people put on new skins. Child fails to recognize mother, who puts old skin back on.—Wesselski Theorie 45.
A1335.5 Origin of death: serpent given immortality instead of man. Renews his skin.—**Delarue Nouvelle Revue des Traditions Populaires (1950) 262—275; Wesselski Theorie 45; Gaster: Oldest Stories 81.
A1335.6 Origin of death: punishment for scorning deity. Wesselski Theorie 45; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.6.1 Origin of death: disrespectful answer to God. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.7 First son who died before his father after the Flood. Irish myth Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A1335.8 Origin of death because world is overpopulated. India: *Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 173; S. Am. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 171.
A1335.9 Origin of death because people weary of living. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.9.1 Death sent into the world by culture hero (God) when he got tired of man. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.10 Men die because a snake comes to prey on mankind while creator rests. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.11 God of world of the dead demands that men die so he will have subjects. (Cf. A487) India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.12 Death origin: God sends a woman to sell poisoned curds to man. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.13 God sends centipede down to introduce death into the world through its poisoned sting. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.14 Death comes into the world by treachery of the gods: stick used by man for scratching his back is changed into cobra.—India: Thompson-Balys.
A1335.15 God punishes man by killing his child: origin of death. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 187.
A1336 Origin of murder. Hebrew: Genesis 4:8ff.; Jewish: Neuman; Greek: Grote I 7.—Congo: Weeks 207 No. 4; Ila of Rhodesia: Smith and Dale 350 No. 5.
A1337 Origin of disease. *Dh I 98ff.—Finnish Kalevala rune 45; Greek: Grote I 72 (Pandora's Box); Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 461; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 187.—Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 278, 282; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 113, 502; Shasta: Frachtenberg JAFL XXVIII 227; S. Am. Indian (Cubeo): Goldman BBAE CXLIII (3) 798.
A1337.0.1 Disease caused by the gods. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.0.1.1 Pestilence brought to man in box by messenger from creator. S. Am. Indian (Inca): Rowe BBAE CXLIII (2) 318.
A1337.0.2 Disease caused by ghosts. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.0.3 Disease caused by witchcraft. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.0.4 Disease caused by menstrual blood. (Cf. D1003.)—India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.0.5 Disease as punishment. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.0.6 Disease to prevent man enjoying himself too much. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.0.7 Origin of sickness and misfortune: monstrous births from brother-sister incestuous union. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.1 Origin of ulcers. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 142 No. 21; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 42.
A1337.2 Origin of cholera. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.3 Origin of epilepsy. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.4 Origin of fever. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.5 Origin of itch. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.6 Origin of leprosy. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.7 Origin of smallpox. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1337.8 Origin of illness from fire and cold. Africa (Togo): Einstein 5f.
A1338 Origin of physical defects. Wicked people entering heaven on rope fall to earth and are injured. St. Peter misunderstands what God says and lets them fall.—Spanish: Boggs FFC XC No. 758A.
A1338.1 Origin of cripples. Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 114f.
A1339.1 Origin of blindness. Jewish: Neuman; S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 145.
A1341 Origin of war among men. Irish myth: Cross; Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 469; Africa (Konnoh): Willans 136.
A1341.1 Origin of battle-shouting. Irish myth: Cross.
A1341.2 Origin of duelling. Irish myth: Cross.
A1341.3 Origin of thefts and quarrels. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1342 Origin of quarrelling. Greek: Grote I 7; S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503.
A1343 Origin of lying. Greek: Grote I 7; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 113, 911; Jewish: Neuman.
A1344 Origin of tears and sighs. Wienert FFC LVI 37; Halm Aesop Nos. 138, 355; Greek: Grote I 7, 72; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys.
A1344.1 The "three first cries that made their way to God": the cry of the blood of Abel, etc. Irish myth: Cross.
A1345 Origin of hunger. Greek: Grote I 7; Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Liberian: Bundy JAFL XXXII 421f.; Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 216, 221.
A1345.1 Origin of thirst. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1346 Man to earn bread by sweat of his brow. (Cf. A1331.1.)—Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 158; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.
A1346.1 Man must work as punishment for theft of fire. Greek: Fox 14.
A1346.2 Man must labor for a living: at first everything too easy. Full crops produce themselves, trees drop sugar etc.—Greek: Grote I 61; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Seneca: Curtin-Hewitt RBAE XXXII 462; S. Am. Indian (Mataco): Métraux MAFLS XL 59f.
A1346.2.1 Cotton at first already spun into threads. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1346.2.2 First people have everything they wish (life without work). India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Fang): Trilles 144.
A1346.2.3 Men are too happy: pain and sickness created. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1346.2.4 Canoes at one time self-propelling. Marshall Is.: Davenport 222.
A1348 Mankind's escape from trouble.
A1348.1 Wren helps mankind restore prosperity to the world. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1350 Origin of sex functions. (Cf. A1556.)
A1351 Origin of childbirth. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.—Maori: Dixon 78; Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian: ibid. 79 n. 79-82; Maori, Hawaii, Cook Is., Fijis: Beckwith Myth 502-504; Hawaii: ibid. 284, Marquesas: Handy 58, 122, 128; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 288 n. 59a, (Tahltan): *Teit JAFL XXXII 207 n. 2.
A1351.1 Origin of childbirth pains. Jewish: Neuman; Africa (Togo): Einstein 8f.
A1351.2 Origin of abortions. Jewish: Neuman.
A1352 Origin of sexual intercourse. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 63-66; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda; Tonga: Gifford 18; S. Am. Indian (Cashinawa): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 684; Africa (Mkulwe): Einstein 18f., (Loango): Pechuël-Loesche 267.
A1352.1 Origin of unrestricted sexual intercourse between husband and wife. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges.
A1352.2 Means of persuading persons to intercourse. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham.
A1352.3 Former intercourse by navel. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1355 Origin of menstruation. Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 25, XXXIII 53 No. 25; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys.
A1355.1 Origin of menstruation—Eve and the serpent. It is a punishment because Eve had intercourse with the serpent.—Dh I 211; Jewish: Neuman.
A1355.1.1 Origin of menstruation: punishment because Eve ate forbidden fruit. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A1355.2 Origin of menstruation—Virgin Mary's garment. She hides her garment and a maiden finds it.—Finnish: Aarne FFC VIII 6 No. 24; Jewish: Neuman.
A1355.3 Previously men menstruated. India: *Thompson-Balys.
A1357 Culture hero teaches women how to rear their children. S. Am. Indian (Toba): Métraux MAFLS XL 112f.
A1358 Origin of sterility among women. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1360 Man's growth and maturity.
A1361 Why children are helpless for so long. Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 84 No. 36; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 43f.; Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 83 No. 11c.
A1365 Why a lad at puberty is energetic and later lazy. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 239.
A1370 Origin of mental and moral characteristics.
A1371 Why women are bad. Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.
A1371.1 Bad women because of head exchanged with devil. Devil (serpent) and woman fight. St. Peter cuts off their heads and exchanges them.—Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 83 No. 11b.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3047, Balys Legends Nos. 82-93.
A1371.2 Bad women combination of nine different animals. Stiefel Zs. f. Vksk. VIII 163.
A1371.3 Bad women from transformed hog and goose. Peter, having only one daughter, foolishly promises her to three men. He asks the Lord to create two others. This request is granted. The first creature he meets on two successive mornings he is to greet, and they will be transformed. He meets a hog and a goose. His two new daughters have these characteristics.—*Dh II 191ff.; Fb "sø" III 449b.; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 411.
A1372 Origin of other special characteristics of women.
A1372.1 Why women are prattlers. Flemish: DeMeyer FFC XXXVII 83 No. 11a.
A1372.2 Why women laugh much. When Eve sees her first child she laughs over its smallness.—Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 141 No. 16.
A1372.3 Why women are roving. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 73; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 114.
A1372.4 Why women have a treble voice. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 141 No. 13; Livonian: Loorits FFC LXVI 84 No. 34.
A1372.5 Why women are deceitful. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 462.
A1372.6 Why some women are good-looking. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 220.
A1372.7 Origin of pleasant and unpleasant women. Contest arranged by Virgin Mary—laughter forbidden for some time.—Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 79.
A1372.8 Why women never have leisure. Because they refused to show God the way, saying they had no time.—Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3046, Balys Legends Nos 74-78.
A1372.9 Why women are subservient to men. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 70ff.; India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Munderucú): Horton BBAE CXLIII (3) 282.
A1372.10 Why women keep washing themselves. St. Andrew, sent to get salt to keep people clean, gets drunk and forgets. There is only enough for men.—Venezuela: Dominguez Collection II No. 33 (Archive of Venezuelan Institute of Folklore).
A1373 Why women attract men.
A1373.1 Why good-looking but soft, useless women attract men. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 220; cf. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 456.
A1375 Origin of jealousy and selfishness. Irish myth: Cross; Gold Coast: Barker and Sinclair 112 No. 19.
A1375.1 Why some married people quarrel and accuse each other of infidelity. Kaska: Teit JAFL XXX 456.
A1376 Why man excels woman. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 236.
A1377 Origin of laziness. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 238f.
A1381 Origin of bravery.
A1381.1 Why people do not fear earthquakes. Tahltan: Teit JAFL XXXII 227.
A1382 Origin of fear.
A1382.1 Why man is fearful in the jungle. Africa: Stanley 78.
A1383 Origin of shame for nakedness.
A1383.1 Shame for nakedness appears to first woman. (Leaves for clothes). —Jewish: Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Baluba): Einstein 19.
A1384 Origin of evil inclinations.
A1384.1 Origin of evil inclinations: punishment for fall of man. Jewish: Neuman.
A1384.2 Evil inclination enters body at time of conception. Jewish: Neuman.
A1386 Origin of drunkenness. Jewish: Neuman.
A1388 Origin of hatred. Jewish: Neuman.
A1388.1 Hate released among mankind. Greek: Fox 78.
A1390 Ordaining of human life—miscellaneous.
A1391 Why other members must serve belly. Result of a debate between members of the body.—India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 393.
A1391.1 Why all limbs are dependent on body. Africa (Cameroon): Mansfield 234.
A1392 First walk by Adam. Irish myth: Cross.
A1394 Men live by the breath of the gods. (Cf. A1241.3.)—India: Thompson-Balys.
A1399 Ordaining of human life—additional motifs.
A1399.1 Origin of laughter. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1399.2 Origin of dreams. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1399.2.1 Origin of sleep. India: Thompson-Balys; S. Am. Indian (Tucuna): Nimuendajú BBAE CXLIII (3) 724.
A1399.3 Origin of spitting. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1399.4 Origin of coughing. India: Thompson-Balys.
A1400 Acquisition of human culture.
A1401 Culture originated by previous race of men. N. A. Indian: Kroeber JAFL XXI 226 s.v. "Departed race."