μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Filed across the traditions
  • Irish myth *Cross
  • Greek Frazer Apollodorus I 84 n. 2, Grote I 105 → on our shelf: The Library (Bibliotheca), BOOK I, ch. IX
  • Icelandic De la Saussaye 298f., MacCulloch Eddic 46ff. (Odin), *Boberg
  • Jewish Neuman
  • India *Thompson-Balys, Keith 156, 218
  • Arabian Burton Nights I 134ff., 220f., III 126f., 236, VII 76, 300, IX 331, X 30, S II 86, 105, S V 88, S VII 239
  • Buddhist myth Malalasekera I 420, II 676
  • Chinese Werner 327, Coyajee JPASB XXIV 182, Jameson The Chinese Art of Shifting Shape (JAFL LXIV 275–80), Graham → on our shelf: Myths & Legends of China, Chapter XIV
  • Korean Zong in-Sob 85
  • Indonesian De Vries's list No. 152, 153
  • New Guinea Dixon 138
  • Hawaii Beckwith Myth 401ff. note
  • New Hebrides Beckwith 131
  • Easter Island Métraux Ethnology 363. – S. Am. Indian (Argentina): Jijena Sanchez 53
  • Jamaica Beckwith MAFLS XVII 271 No. 84. – Africa (Cold Coast): Barker and Sinclair 42 No. 4, (Ekoi): Talbot 247.
  • general See, in general, references throughout D610–D629, D640–D659, D670–D699, nearly all of which motifs involve the idea of voluntary transformation. *Types 652, 665
  • general Hdwb. d. Märchens s. v. "Baum"
  • general *Bolte Reise der Söhne Giaffers 215
  • general *Chauvin VII 83 No. 373bis n. 1. – German: Grimm Nos. 51, 56, 68, 181
Within the index
6 finer motifs beneath it
Power of self-transformation received from wood spirit Power of self-transformation received from a god Power of self-transformation received from fairy parent Deity has power of self-transformation Size changed at will Boat transforms self at will of master
Keeps company with — shares receipted episodes
Sleepless dragon Brazen-footed, fire-breathing bulls. (Cf. B15.6, B15.5) Animal languages learned from serpent (not eaten). (Cf. B176.) Bird language Grateful animals Helpful serpent Tabu: falsely claiming the powers of a god Transformation: man to sparrow Transformation: watersprite to flood Transformation by wand Power of self-transformation received from a god Disenchantment by throwing golden objects into water
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “transformation” · wander