μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Within the index

Filed under Animal characteristics: punishment for impiety. (Cf. A2221, A2311.8, A2422.2, A2302.2, A2355.1.2, A2542.1.)

3 finer motifs beneath it
Animal cursed for betraying holy fugitive. (Cf. A2221.5.)Animal cursed for refusing to carry holy fugitive across stream. (Cf. A2371.2.1.)Tortoise cursed for going under water while ferrying rice-goddess: people will be able to kill it with iron-made spears
Filed beside it
Animal characteristics: punishment for discourteous answer to God (saint). (Cf. A2411.2.6.)Animal characteristics: punishment for hostility at crucifixion. (Cf. A2221.2.)Animal characteristics: punishment for working on holy dayFrog fails to honor infant Jesus: loses tail. (Cf. A2221.1, A2378.2.3Spider vies with Virgin Mary in spinning: cursedSpider steals thread from Christ: has thread in back of body. (Cf. A2356.2.8.)Toad refuses to weep over its dead children: dries up when dead. Cursed by Virgin Mary. (Cf. A2234.4, A2468.2.)Fish in deluge deride God: are flattened with blow. They mock God for his powerlessness over them. (Cf. A2213, A2305.1, A2354.1.)Crab beats deity's forbidden drum: eyes lift out of body. (Cf. A2332.4.2.)Beetle demands return of gold from God: must hum. In his overweening pride he hits fence and ever afterward has hummed. (Cf. A2426.3.1.)Buffaloes fail to come at god's leavetaking: now are killed by tigersLoris refuse to look at sun who comes out when they are dancing: hence never looks at sun
Travels with
Adder harmful to holy person transformed to blindworm. (Cf. A1710, A1730, A2231.7.)

wander