μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Theft of fire. Mankind is without fire. A culture hero steals it from the owner.

Mythological motifs. · Creation and ordering of human life. · Acquisition of culture. · Acquisition of livable environment. · view the constellation · filed as A1415

Attested across traditions
Filed across the traditions
  • Hindu Keith 36
  • Finnish Holmberg Finno-Ugric 238. – Oceanic Dixon 47 n. 31 (Maori), 47 n. 34 (Polynesia – general), 48 n. 35, 36 (Melanesia), 49 (Maori, Chatham Is., Marquesas, Melanesia, Hawaii, Micronesia), 112 (Woodlark Is.), 114 (Motu and Massim of British New Guinea), 182ff. (Indonesia), 281 (Australia)
  • Indonesian Voorhoeve Overzicht 65
  • Marquesas Handy 104
  • Hawaii Beckwith Myth 227
  • Tonga Gifford 22
  • Eskimo (Ungava) Turner RBAE XI 340
  • N. Am. Indian *Thompson Tales 289 n. 63, Alexander N. Am. 256, 301f. n. 51
  • general **Frazer Fire
  • general *Dh I 142ff.
  • general *Hdwb. d. Märch. II 109b n. 14–15. – Greek: Fox 13, *Frazer Apollodorus I 51 n. 6 → on our shelf: The Library (Bibliotheca), BOOK I, ch. VII
  • general S. Am. Indian (Baikairi, Amazon): Alexander Lat. Am. 313
  • general (Caingang): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (1) 473, (Botocudo): Métraux ibid. (1) 550, (Tucuna): Nimuendajú ibid. (3) 724, (Tenethara): Wagley-Galvao ibid. (3) 147, (Guarani): Métraux ibid. (3) 93, (Guarporé): Lévi-Strauss ibid. (3) 379, (Tapirape): Wagley-Galvao ibid. (3) 178, (Chamacoco): Métraux MAFLS XL 111, (Choco, Western Colombia): Métraux ibid. 112, (Apapocuvú-Guarani): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 138. – African: Frobenius Atlantis XII 80, (Bushongo): Torday 237, cf. Congo: Weeks 206. Cf. Finnish: Kalevala rune 47. → on our shelf: The Kalevala, Rune XLVII
Within the index

Filed under Acquisition of livable environment.

6 finer motifs beneath it
Fire witheld from men as punishment Original fire property of one person (animal) Fire stolen in hollow reed Theft of fire by animals Theft of fire – trick exchange. Child of fire-owner is stolen and then given back in exchange for fire Vain attempts to circumvent theft of fire
Filed beside it
Theft of light. Light originally absent is stolen by culture hero Origin of light – miscellaneous Origin of fire Country ridded of ogres and made peaceful Theft of tablets of fate. From heaven by bird Zu
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Animal who steals fire scorched: cause of his color. (Cf. A1415.)
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Fire stolen in hollow reed Theft of sun. The sun, which is kept by a monster, is stolen and brought to earth Eclipse caused by monster devouring sun or moon Moon as wooer. The moon is enamored of a mortal Theft of moon. Moon is kept by a monster. It is stolen and brought to earth Deluge. Inundation of whole world or section Man made from clay (earth) Man created from stones New race from stones thrown over head after deluge. (Cf. A1254.1.) Theft of light. Light originally absent is stolen by culture hero

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