μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Primeval water: In the beginning everything is covered with water.

Mythological motifs. · Cosmogony and cosmology. · –A899. The earth. · –A839. Creation of the earth. · Primeval water. · view the constellation · filed as A810

Attested across traditions
Filed across the traditions
  • Icel. MacCulloch Eddic 325–26
  • Finnish Kalevala rune 1 → on our shelf: The Kalevala, Rune I
  • Egyptian Müller 48
  • Babylonian Spence 71
  • Jewish Neuman
  • Siberian Holmberg Siberian 313ff.
  • Buddhist myth Malalasekera II 786
  • India *Thompson-Balys. – Batak: Voorhoeve Oversicht 63ff.
  • Marquesas Handy 122
  • Marshall Is. Davenport 221
  • Oceanic Dixon 8 n. 7 (Maori), 18f. (Samoa), 20 (Society Is., Tonga), 105 (Admiralty Is., Polynesia, Indonesia, Micronesia), 157 (Minahassa), 158f. (Borneo), 248f. (Marshall Is., Yap), 270 (Arunta)
  • Quiché ibid. 160.
  • general **Dh I 1–89 passim
  • general Gaster Oldest Stories 69. – Irish myth: Cross
  • general Bushongo: Werner African 144, African: Stanley 5
  • general S. Am. Indian (Guarayu): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 437. – N. Am. Indian: *Thompson Tales 279 n. 29, Alexander N. Am. 260 (Haida), (Calif.): Gayton and Newman 53
  • general Mixtec: Alexander Lat. Am. 86
Within the index
9 finer motifs beneath it
God and Devil fly together over primeval water Primeval water to subside in a specified time Earth brought up from bottom of primeval water. (Cf. A812.) Earth Diver. From a raft in the primeval sea, the creator sends down animals to try to bring up earth. After a number of animals have failed, one (often the muskrat) succeeds. The earth is made from the bit brought up Raft in primeval sea. Creator is on the raft and there creates the earth. (Cf. A812.) Earth from object thrown on primeval water Earth from turtle's back. Earth erected on back of a turtle floating in primeval water. (Cf. A844.1.) Earth rises from sea Earth let down from sky on to primeval ocean
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Woman who fell from the sky. – Daughter of the sky-chief falls from the sky, is caught by birds, and lowered to the surface of the water. She becomes the creator Culture hero snatched from mother's side Cosmic egg. The universe brought forth from an egg Creation from duck's eggs. Upper vault from half shell, lower vault from half shell, moonbeams from whites, sunshine from yellows, starlight from motley parts, clouds from dark parts Earth Diver. From a raft in the primeval sea, the creator sends down animals to try to bring up earth. After a number of animals have failed, one (often the muskrat) succeeds. The earth is made from the bit brought up Earth from turtle's back. Earth erected on back of a turtle floating in primeval water. (Cf. A844.1.) Topographical features caused by experiences of primitive hero (demigod, deity). Footprints of the gods, thoroughfares of heroes, etc Conception from wind. (Cf. A715.2, F611.1.9.) Long pregnancy. Delayed by an enemy who bewitches the mother

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