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 |
|---|---|
| G303.3.1.2 | The devil as a well-dressed gentleman. Wünsche Teufel 37f., 54, 59f.; Irish myth: Cross; Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 293; U.S.: Baughman; Georgia Negro: Harris Remus 32; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 8 No. 66; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 347ff., 353, 357, 361, 363f., 367ff., 402, 413, 415, 425ff., 430f., 433ff., 437ff., 441—47, 449ff., 454, 456ff., 461, 464, 466, 655ff., 684f., 737, 764, 766, 772, 776, 786f., 803, 805, 808, 844; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.1.3 | The devil as a distinguished-looking knight. Wünsche Teufel 61f. |
| G303.3.1.3.1 | Devil as a ribald traveler. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.1.4 | Devil appears in the form of a man who is repugnantly ugly. (Cf. G303.3.0.1.) Wessman 8 No. 66, Wünsche Teufel 103f.; Irish: Cross, O'Suilleabhain 35, Beal XXI 312; England: Baughman. |
| G303.3.1.5 | The devil as a little, gray old man. Wessman 12 No. 99; Wünsche Teufel 52f.; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 440, 448, 458. |
| G303.3.1.6 | The devil as a black man. Wünsche Teufel 30f., 106f., Fb I 266b; Irish: *Cross, O'Suilleabhain 35f., Beal XXI 313. |
| G303.3.1.7 | Devil as a huntsman. Wünsche Teufel 33f., 49f.; Hunt Popular Romances of West of England (London, 1903) 222; Nouvelles de Sens No. 5. |
| G303.3.1.8 | Devil in form of priest. Scala Celi 45a, 45b Nos. 254, 257; Crane Vitry 246 No. 263; *Loomis White Magic 74; England: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3330, Legends Nos. 419—422, 424. |
| G303.3.1.8.1 | Devil as a hermit. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.3.1.8.2 | Devil as ascetic. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 617. |
| G303.3.1.9 | Devil in form of pilgrim. Scala Celi 153a No. 844; Alphabet No. 620. |
| G303.3.1.10 | Devil as a peasant. England: Hunt Popular Romances 232; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 543. |
| G303.3.1.11 | Devil as three gentlemen. They come for a dying man. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 295. |
| G303.3.1.12 | Devil in form of woman. Lures man. *Loomis White Magic 75; Irish myth: *Cross; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 554ff., 762, 801, 834ff.; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.3.1.12.1 | Devil in form of woman lures and punishes women. Introduces men disguised as women to seduce impious nuns. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| G303.3.1.12.2 | Devil as a beautiful young woman seduces man. Spanish Exempla: Keller; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.3.1.12.3 | Devil appears as a beautiful black wench. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.1.12.4 | Devil appears as old woman to seduce monk from cloister. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.1.12.5 | Devil (in queen's form) insatiable, although she copulates with all men and horses. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.3.1.13 | Devil as cook. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| G303.3.1.14 | Devil as student. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.3.1.15 | Devil appears as a Jew. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.1.16 | Devil appears as a child. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.1.17 | Devils appear as ladies and gentlemen. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.1.18 | Devil as shoemaker. Estonian, Livonian, Latvian, Lithuanian: *Balys Tautosakos Darbai VI 105—110. |
| G303.3.1.19 | Devil as merchant. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.1.20 | Devil appears in shape of a dead man while hidden in his corpse or skin. Lithuanian: Balys Ghosts. |
| G303.3.1.21 | The devil as a great hairy man. England: Baughman. |
| G303.3.1.22 | Devil as astrologer. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.3.1.23 | Satan disguised as beggar. (Cf. K1817.1.) Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.3.1.24 | Satan as very old man. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.3.1.25 | Satan disguised as king. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.2 | The devil in superhuman from. |
| G303.3.2.1 | Devil appears as Christ. Scala Celi 45a No. 256; *Loomis White Magic 74; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.2.1.1 | Devil as crucifix. *Loomis White Magic 75; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| G303.3.2.2 | Devil (Satan) appears as an angel. Dh I 228; *Loomis White Magic 74; Irish myth: *Cross; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.2.3 | Devil as a dwarf. Irish myth: Cross; German: Henne-Am Rhyn 278. |
| G303.3.2.4 | Devil in form of dragons and monsters of various sorts. *Loomis White Magic 74. |
| G303.3.2.5 | Devil appears as Virgin Mary. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 41. |
| G303.3.3 | The devil in animal form. *Loomis White Magic 74; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.3.1 | Devil in form of domestic beast. |
| G303.3.3.1.1 | Devil in form of dog. Wünsche Teufel 83f.; Fb I 189a, 266b, 676a, II 636b, 891b, IV 227a; Tobler 46; Wessman 9 No. 67; Grunwald Hessische Blätter f. Vksk. XXX—XXXI 317; *Loomis White Magic 74. Irish: Beal XXI 321, 327, O'Suilleabhain 54, 75; Icelandic: *Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Danielsson I 86; Spanish Exempla: Keller; South America (Colombia, Argentina, Brazil): Jijena Sanchez 90, 103, 106. |
| G303.3.3.1.2 | Devil in form of a cat. *Loomis White Magic 74; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 40, Beal XXI 315; Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 306; U.S.: Baughman; Finnish-Swedish: Danielsson I 99; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 454, 538ff.; French: Sébillot France III 124; Tobler 46. |
| G303.3.3.1.3 | Devil as horse. Howey Horse in Magic and Myth 35ff.; *Loomis White Magic 74; Kittredge Witchcraft 177 n. 31; Boggs FFC XC 90 No. 762; Köhler-Bolte II 266ff.; Fb I 266b; England, U.S.: Baughman; Icelandic: Boberg; Finnish-Swedish: Danielsson op. cit. I 68; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 667ff., 760, 781f.; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| G303.3.3.1.4 | Devil in form of cow (bull, ox). Tobler 46; Fb I 266b; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 616. |
| G303.3.3.1.5 | Devil in form of swine. Fb I 266b; Scala Celi 120b No. 659; Tobler 46; *Loomis White Magic 74; U.S.: Baughman; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 558, 705. |
| G303.3.3.1.6 | Devil in form of goat. Irish myth: Cross; Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 290; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3300, Legends Nos. 529—36f., 541, 545, 550f., 554, 777ff., 832; Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.1.7 | Devil in form of ram. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 537, 542ff., 546ff., 780. |
| G303.3.3.2 | Devil in form of wild beast. |
| G303.3.3.2.1 | Devil in form of wolf. Fb I 189; *Loomis White Magic 74; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 594ff.; French: Sébillot France III 34, IV 118. |
| G303.3.3.2.2 | Devil in form of fox. Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 180. |
| G303.3.3.2.3 | Devil in form of hare. Fb I 266b; England, U.S.: Baughman; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 124 No. 51; Finnish: FFC XXXIII 42 No. 51. |
| G303.3.3.2.4 | Devil in form of mouse. Tobler 45; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 192, 194f. |
| G303.3.3.2.5 | Devil in form of lion. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.3.2.6 | Devil in form of squirrel. Tobler 46. |
| G303.3.3.2.7 | Devil in form of monkey. Scala Celi 62b No. 340; Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 89. |
| G303.3.3.2.8 | Devil in form of deer. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.2.9 | Devil in form of hyena. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.2.10 | Devil in form of a terrifying elephant. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 436. |
| G303.3.3.3 | Devil in form of bird. *Loomis White Magic 74; Irish myth: Cross; England: Baughman; Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.3.1 | Devil in form of raven. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 295; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 400ff., 405ff., 411; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 314 No. 110. |
| G303.3.3.3.2 | Devil in form of crow. Scala Celi 168a No. 954; England: Baughman. |
| G303.3.3.3.3 | Devil in form of black bird. Tobler 45. |
| G303.3.3.3.4 | Devil in form of woodcock. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 42 No. 51; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 124 No. 51. |
| G303.3.3.3.5 | Devil in form of cock. Fb IV 272b. |
| G303.3.3.3.6 | Devil in form of owl. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| G303.3.3.4 | Devil in form of insect. |
| G303.3.3.4.1 | Devil in form of gnat. Tobler Epiphanie der Seele 45. |
| G303.3.3.4.2 | Devil in form of spider. Hangs from the clouds. Dh I 135; Scotland, Wales, U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.3.3.4.3 | Devil in form of wasp. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.3.3.4.4 | Devil in form of fly. *Loomis White Magic 74; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 404. |
| G303.3.3.5 | Devil in form of fish. |
| G303.3.3.6 | Devil in form of reptile. |
| G303.3.3.6.1 | Devil in form of snake. Sneaks into the ark. *Loomis White Magic 74; Dh I 268; U.S., England: Baughman; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.3.3.7 | Devil in form of amphibian. |
| G303.3.3.7.1 | Devil in form of toad. Fb III 888b; Kittredge Witchcraft 181 n. 72; England: *Baughman. |
| G303.3.3.8 | Miscellaneous other animal forms in which the devil appears: bear; ant; wild goose. Fb IV 99a; *Loomis White Magic 74; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.3.4 | Devil in form of inanimate objects. |
| G303.3.4.1 | Devil in form of wheel on wagon. Fb I 266b. |
| G303.3.4.2 | Devil as a black ball. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 9 No. 68. |
| G303.3.4.2.1 | Devil as a ball of fire. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 848ff. |
| G303.3.4.3 | Devil (Black Donald) as a bunch of ferns. Rolls down hill. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 303. |
| G303.3.4.4 | Devil as wind. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.3.4.4.1 | Devil as whirlwind. Persons met by him are killed or maimed. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 14 No. 122. |
| G303.3.4.5 | Devil as a barrel. Rolls and is impossible to catch. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 802. |
| G303.3.4.6 | Devil in shape of a stone. Lithuanian: Balys Historical. |
| G303.3.4.7 | Devil in the form of a sheaf. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| G303.3.4.8 | Devil in form of round bowl. Wales: Baughman. |
| G303.3.4.9 | Devil in form of house. Wales: Baughman. |
| G303.3.4.10 | Devil in form of ungainly bundle. U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.3.4.11 | Devil as stream of water. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.3.5 | Devil changes shape. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.3.5.1 | Devil becomes larger and larger. Wünsche Teufel 40; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 532, 539, 542, 556, 722, 780, 839; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.3.5.2 | Devil becomes smaller and smaller. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 837f. |
| G303.3.5.3 | Devil becomes heavier and heavier. Animal taken into cart becomes so heavy that horses are unable to pull cart. If it is brought home it turns to stone or tree-stump. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3301; Legends Nos. 533, 535, 541ff., 545—53, 558. |
| G303.3.6 | Forms into which the devil cannot change. |
| G303.3.6.1 | Devil cannot change into pike. Fb I 440a. |
| G303.3.6.2 | Devil cannot change into dove. Tobler 46; England: Baughman. |
| G303.3.6.3 | Devil cannot change into lamb. Tobler 46; England: Baughman. |
| G303.3.6.3.1 | The devil cannot change into a sheep. Dh I 165. |
| G303.4 | The devil's physical characteristics. |
| G303.4.1 | The devil's head. |
| G303.4.1.1 | Devil has ninety-nine heads. Dh I 135. |
| G303.4.1.2 | Devil's eyes. |
| G303.4.1.2.1 | Devil with eye in middle of forehead. Type 756B; Fb I 189b, 266b; Andrejev FFC LXIX 62. |
| G303.4.1.2.2 | Devil with glowing eyes. Fb I 189b, 266b, U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.4.1.2.3 | Two beams of fire shoot from devil's eyes. England: Hunt Popular Romances 218. |
| G303.4.1.2.4 | Devil has saucer eyes. English: Hunt 224. |
| G303.4.1.2.5 | Devil has passionate look in eyes. Wünsche Teufel 59. |
| G303.4.1.2.6 | Devil has no eyebrows. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| G303.4.1.2.7 | Devil is blind. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.4.1.3 | Devil's beard. |
| G303.4.1.3.1 | Devil has a red beard. Dh I 239; German: Henne-Am Rhyn (1874) 278. |
| G303.4.1.4 | Devil's nose. |
| G303.4.1.4.1 | Devil has a long nose. German: Henne-Am Rhyn (1874) 277. |
| G303.4.1.4.2 | Devil has only one nostril or is without nostrils at all. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 349, 351, 395, 654f., 657f., 776, 785f., 799, 803, 814. |
| G303.4.1.5 | Devil's teeth. |
| G303.4.1.5.1 | Devil has shining teeth. Girl wishes to marry man whose teeth shine. Such a man appears and they marry. When he removes his hat she finds he is the devil. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 52 No. 340a, Espinosa Jr. No. 93. |
| G303.4.1.5.2 | One of devil's teeth grows down to the earth; another to sky. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.4.1.6 | Devil has horns. Scotland: Baughman; German: Henne-Am Rhyn 278; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles No. 70. |
| G303.4.1.6.1 | Devil has two horns. Wünsche Teufel 40. |
| G303.4.1.6.2 | Devil child born with horns. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G303.4.1.7 | The devil's face. |
| G303.4.1.7.1 | Devil's face is black. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G303.4.1.8 | Devil's hair. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.4.1.8.1 | Devil's hair blood-red. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.4.1.8.2 | Devil has three golden hairs. *Type 461. |
| G303.4.2 | The devil's wings. |
| G303.4.2.1 | The devil has six wings. Dh I 138. |
| G303.4.2.2 | The devil has twelve wings. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.4.3 | The devil's thumb. |
| G303.4.3.1 | Devil has glowing thumb. Wünsche Teufel 44. |
| G303.4.3.2 | Devil's thumb the size of two fists. Wünsche Teufel 44. |
| G303.4.4 | Devil has claws. Wünsche Teufel 42f., 83f. |
| G303.4.4.1 | Devil has five claws. Wünsche Teufel 84. |
| G303.4.4.2 | Devil has claws on his feet. One can tell a devil by claws protruding through his shoes. Fb II 184, 204b. |
| G303.4.5 | The devil's feet and legs. |
| G303.4.5.1 | Devils have only one leg. They broke one leg when trying to run away from God's attack to protect himself from them. Dh I 50. |
| G303.4.5.1.1 | Devil has only one foot. The wolf which he made has eaten the other. Dh I 148. |
| G303.4.5.1.2 | Devil's shoes are empty. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 350, 654, 657. |
| G303.4.5.2 | Devil has a broken foot. He limps. Type 756B; Andrejev FFC LXIX 62, *231 n.; German: Henne-Am Rhyn 277. |
| G303.4.5.3 | Devil has horse's foot. Type 756B; Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 226; Andrejev FFC LXIX 62; Fb I 601b; Wünsche Teufel 52.—Scotch Campbell Superstitions 290; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 8 No. 66; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 137. |
| G303.4.5.3.1 | Devil detected by his hoofs. While playing cards the devil drops a card on the floor and his partners notice his monstrous feet. England, Wales, U.S.: Baughman; Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 41 No. 34; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 120 No. 34; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3350, Legends Nos. 676, 793. |
| G303.4.5.3.2 | Devil's footprints without any toes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| G303.4.5.4 | The devil has goat feet. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 92, Beal XXI 330; England: Baughman; German: Henne-Am Rhyn (Leipzig, 1874) 278. |
| G303.4.5.4.1 | Devil is betrayed by his goat hoofs. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 8 No. 66. |
| G303.4.5.5 | Devil has pig's foot. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 290. |
| G303.4.5.6 | Devil's knees are backwards. Type 756B; Andrejev FFC LXIX 62; Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G303.4.5.7 | Devil has no heels. Bitten off by wolf who was created by devil. Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 139f., 142. |
| G303.4.5.8 | Devil has club foot. England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.4.5.9 | Devil has cock's feet. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.4.6 | The devil's tail. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 792. |
| G303.4.6.1 | A little girl recognizes the devil by his tail. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 119 No. 29; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3675, Legends Nos. 382, 395. |
| G303.4.6.2 | Boy recognizes devil when he fans fire with his tail. Africa (Masai): Fuchs Sagen, Mythen, und Sitten der Masai (Jena, 1910) 21ff. No. 4. |
| G303.4.7 | Devil speaks with voice of a he-goat. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 301. |
| G303.4.8 | Miscellaneous characteristics of devil. |
| G303.4.8.1 | Devil has sulphurous odor. (Cf. G303.6.3.4, G303.17.2.8.) England, U.S.: Baughman; German: Henne-Am Rhyn (1874) 271; Italian Novella: Rotunda; Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.4.8.2 | Devil holds molten coin in mouth. Fb I 267a. |
| G303.4.8.2.1 | Devil holds fire in his hands. Irish: O'Suilleabhain 38. |
| G303.4.8.3 | Devil claims to be 7,777 years old. Dh I 195. |
| G303.4.8.4 | Devil never eats in an inn. Devil's coachman observes this. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 119 No. 28. |
| G303.4.8.5 | Devil carries a thorn stick. German: Henne-Am Rhyn 278. |
| G303.4.8.6 | Devil is swift of foot. Type 756B; Andrejev FFC LXIX 62; Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.4.8.7 | Devil with pitchfork. North Carolina: Brown Collection I 688. |
| G303.4.8.8 | Devil laughs (weeps) when men weep (laugh). Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| G303.4.8.9 | Devil all speckled and spotted. England: Baughman. |
| G303.4.8.10 | Devil's hand marks person he touches. England, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G303.4.8.11 | Devil in animal form cannot be hit by bullets. Scotland, U.S.: *Baughman. |
| G303.4.8.12 | Devil picks up live coals to light pipe. U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.4.8.13 | Devil invisible. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.5 | How the devil is dressed. |
| G303.5.1 | Devil is dressed in black. French: Sébillot France I 287, III 144; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.5.1.1 | Devil in a black cloak. German: Henne-Am Rhyn 278. |
| G303.5.2 | Devil is dressed in green. |
| G303.5.2.1 | Devil in green clothing with hat. Wünsche Teufel 34f. |
| G303.5.2.2 | Devil as a hunter in green. Wünsche Teufel 53f., 90f. |
| G303.5.2.3 | Devil wears a bright green coat. German: Henne-Am Rhyn 278. |
| G303.5.3 | The devil dressed in red. French: Sébillot France II 29. |
| G303.5.4 | Devil dressed in blue clothes. Fb I 266a; U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.5.5 | Devil dressed in hunting clothes. Wünsche Teufel 65f. |
| G303.6 | Circumstances of the devil's appearance. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.6.1 | When the devil appears. Danielsson Djävulgestalten i Finlands Svenska Folktro (Helsingfors, 1930) 74. |
| G303.6.1.1 | Devil appears at midnight. Hunt Popular Romances 230; Wünsche Teufel 54, 59, 106f.; Danielsson op. cit. 77. |
| G303.6.1.2 | Devil comes when called upon. Fb I 267a, IV 99a; Wünsche Teufel 54, 99; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 34, 59, Beal XXI 312, 323; English: Hunt 232, 241; England, Wales: Baughman; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 12 No. 106; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 601—604. |
| G303.6.1.2.1 | Devil writes into book names of those who call on him. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| G303.6.1.3 | Devil appears to claim soul offered to devil in jest. Wünsche Teufel 36f.; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 56, Beal XXI 322. |
| G303.6.1.4 | Devil appears when a woman looks at herself in the mirror after sunset. England, Wales, U.S.: Baughman; French: Sébillot France I 139; Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| G303.6.1.5 | Devil appears when cards are played. Fb IV 99a; Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 292. |
| G303.6.1.6 | Devil invoked through medium of a black dog. Peru: Jijena Sanchez 132. |
| G303.6.1.7 | Devil appears on Hallowe'en. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.6.2 | People to whom the devil appears. |
| G303.6.2.1 | Devil appears invisible among dancers. (Cf. G303.10.4.) Canada, U.S.: *Baughman (G303.6.2.12); Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 10 No. 79; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| G303.6.2.2 | Devil appears at meetings of witches. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 292; Finnish-Swedish: Danielsson op. cit. 84. |
| G303.6.2.3 | Devil appears among youths who jest while they say their evening prayers. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 10 No. 76. |
| G303.6.2.4 | Devil visible to one who walks in minister's (or minister's wife's) holy shoes (galoshes). Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 10. No. 79. |
| G303.6.2.5 | Devil appears to persons ready to abandon their integrity. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 292. |
| G303.6.2.6 | Devil appears to minister's serving man to warn of impending disaster to the house. Scotch: Campbell Superstitions 298f. |
| G303.6.2.7 | Devil appears to girl who prays over pit where she has thrown the bodies of her babies. French: Sébillot France II 313. |
| G303.6.2.8 | Devil appears to dying man. Irish myth: Cross. |
| G303.6.2.9 | Devil appears to saint (cleric). Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G303.6.2.9.1 | Saint is able to see devils. *Loomis White Magic 76f. |
| G303.6.2.10 | Devil appears to scholar. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G303.6.2.11 | Devil appears to Eve. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G303.6.2.12 | Devil hides in clothes of people running from storm. See references to G303.6.3.1.1. Balys Tautosakos Darbai VI 87—100. |
| G303.6.2.13 | Devil appears to person who cuts both ends off loaf of bread. England: Baughman. |
| G303.6.2.14 | Devil appears to Sabbath breakers. (Cf. C631.) England, Wales: *Baughman. |
| G303.6.2.15 | Devil appears when person steals. |
| G303.6.2.15.1 | Devil causes boy to make noise of wind breaking after he has stolen bushel of corn to pay for shoes. (Cf. D2063.5.) U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.6.3 | Natural phenomena accompanying the devil's appearance. |
| G303.6.3.1 | Devil is followed by a thunderstorm. Dh I 154; England, U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.6.3.1.1 | The devil appears during thunderstorm, seeking shelter among people. Swedish, Lappish, Finnish, Estonian, Livonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, White Russian: *Balys Tautosakos Darbai VI 87—100. |
| G303.6.3.2 | Devil comes in the whirlwind. French: Sébillot France I 113. |
| G303.6.3.3 | Devil and the wind travel together. French: Sébillot France II 313. |
| G303.6.3.4 | Devil appears in an intense light and with strong odor of sulphur. (Cf. G303.4.8.1.) Sébillot France II 313; U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.6.3.5 | Devil's coming heralded by piercing whistle. German: Grimm No. 195. |
| G303.7 | How the devil travels. |
| G303.7.1 | Devil rides horse. U.S.: Baughman; Irish: Beal XXI 322, O'Suilleabhain 55. |
| G303.7.1.1 | Devil rides on black horse. Wesselski Märchen 199; English: Hunt Popular Romances 217, 222, Baughman. |
| G303.7.1.2 | Devil's horses are transformed men. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 40 No. 33; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 118 Nos. 25, 33; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3304, Legends Nos. 469, 581ff., 585. |
| G303.7.1.2.1 | Devil's horse has human feet. Finnish: Aarne FFC XXXIII 40 No. 33; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 120 No. 33. |
| G303.7.1.2.2 | Devil (gentleman) invites traveler into his wagon. Explains that his horses are Earl X, etc. (Cf. G303.25.17.1.) Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 118 No. 25. |
| G303.7.1.2.3 | Devil (gentleman) invites girls into his sleigh. French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule. |
| G303.7.1.3 | Devil rides horse at night hunting lost souls over the heath. England: Baughman. |
| G303.7.2 | Devil rides away on an ass. Angered because God has not invited him to his wedding. Dh I 129. |
| G303.7.3 | Devil drives horse and wagon. Fb I 266b; Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 9 No. 69. |
| G303.7.3.1 | Devil in wagon drawn by two black horses carries off impious people. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 13 No. 118; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 822. |
| G303.7.3.2 | Devil drives carriage drawn by horses whose nostrils shoot fire. Finnish-Swedish: Wessman 9 No. 69; French: Sébillot France I 428. |
| G303.7.3.3 | Devil in coach drawn by headless horses. English: Hunt Popular Romances 224ff. |
| G303.7.3.4 | Devil pursues man from carriage drawn by four white horses. U.S.: Baughman. |
| G303.7.3.5 | Devil travels in coach drawn by four blood-red horses, the hoofs of which strike fire from the pavement. German: Grimm No. 120. |
| G303.7.4 | Devil comes in a cart. Fb I 266b; Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 776. |
| G303.7.5 | Devil drives several teams of oxen. English: Hunt Popular Romances 230. |
| G303.7.6 | Devil rides on hog, drives another. Fb III 676b. |
| G303.7.7 | Devil drives six he-goats. Wünsche Teufel 41. |
| G303.7.8 | Devil rides cow until she goes mad. England: Baughman. |
| G303.7.9 | Devil flies like bird. Jewish: Neuman. |
| G303.8 | Devil's expulsion from heaven and his present haunts. |
| G303.8.1 | Devil driven from heaven. Spanish Exempla: Keller; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 3002, Legends Nos. 5f.; Jewish: *Neuman. |
| G303.8.1.1 | God has Elias drive devils from heaven. They use thunder, lightning, and rain for forty days. Dh I 133f. |
| G303.8.1.2 | Archangels Michael and Gabriel drive Satan and other devils from heaven to earth. Dh I 67, 138; Irish: Beal XXI 323, O'Suilleabhain 59. |
| G303.8.1.2.1 | Devil becomes an angel. Forced by monk, devil sings a hymn and becomes a white angel as he was before the sin. Lithuanian: Balys Legends No. 670, Balys Ghosts. |
| G303.8.2 | Devils carry away the sun when they fall from heaven. Dh I 136. |
| G303.8.3 | The devil in hell. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| G303.8.3.1 | Devil is thrust into hell by God. Dh I 5; Lithuanian: Balys Legends Nos. 5f. |
| G303.8.3.2 | Devil builds himself a castle and calls it hell. Dh I 145. |
| G303.8.3.3 | Devil's house is visible on the way to hell. Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV 121 No. 38. |
| G303.8.4 | Devil lives in a church. Fb I 266a. |
| G303.8.4.1 | Devil bound with huge chain near northern side of Tamdrup church. Fb I 189a. |
| G303.8.4.2 | Devil in each stone of church built with ill-gotten wealth. Scala Celi 84a No. 481; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| G303.8.5 | Devil in interior of earth. Banished there by God as punishment for trying to usurp God's rule of the world. Dh I 208. |
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.