μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Insects from body of slain monster. Usually the monster is burnt; sometimes the insects come from his head, sometimes from his body as it burns. (Cf. A1716.1.)

Mythological motifs. · Creation of animal life. · Creation of insects. · Creation of insects. · view the constellation · filed as A2001

Attested across traditions
Filed across the traditions
  • Persian Carnoy 288
  • Siberian Holmberg Siberian 386
  • Chinese Eberhard FFC CXX 23, 128
  • Japanese Ikeda
  • N. Am. Indian *Thompson Tales 354 n. 275.
  • general *Dh I 279, III 152ff., 164ff., 170ff. (dragon)
  • general *Fb "myre", "myg"
Within the index

Filed under Creation of insects.

1 finer motif beneath it
Insects from brains, blood, and bones of slain helpful animal
Filed beside it
Origin of insects from various experiences of saint Origin of insects: released from sack. God places them in a sack and gives it to hare to carry to stream. He must not look in the sack. When he does so the insects escape. The hare laughs and this is the cause of his split lip Insects from devil's post-hole. Devil is given enough land to dig a post-hole. From this come all kinds of insects. To stop them a burning log is put in the hole. Insects therefore hate smoke Origin of insects: God throws sand on lazy shepherds. (Cf. A1716.1) Origin of insects: monstrous births from brother-sister incest
Travels with (Thompson’s cf.)
Animals from different parts of body of slain giant. Giant person, cow, ox, etc Creation of ant Mosquitoes from bones of slain demon flung into the air. (Cf. A2001.) Mosquitoes from ashes of bad woman. (Cf. A2001.) Snake from blood of slain monster. Medusa. (Cf. A1724, A2001.)
Carried in tale types

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