μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif
Scholars’ trail — 9references

The index’s own references — the collections where scholars sighted this story-shape, tradition by tradition. Titles on our shelf are live links; the rest is the frontier, not yet shelved.

  • Irish myth*Cross
  • Missouri FrenchCarrière
  • India*Thompson-Balys
  • Eskimo (Bering Strait)Nelson RBAE XVIII 471
  • Africa (Zulu)Callaway 44, (Benga): Nassau 208ff.
  • general *Types 531, 709
  • general Böklen 84ff.
  • general BP III 18ff.
  • general Malone PMLA XLIII 412
Within the index

Filed under Supernatural helpers.

8 finer motifs beneath it
Giant's help secured by feeding himWise giant as foster father of heroGiantess as foster mother and helper of heroGrateful giantess as helperGiantess helps the man she lovesMonster grateful to hero for being spared becomes helpfulOgre magically produces water for caravanChief with three supernatural ogre helpers
Filed beside it
Invisible guardiansHelper's beard and eyebrows cut. Only after hero has performed this service is help forthcomingHero's divine father as helperSupernatural helper comes from skySupernatural person disguised as servant as helperSaint disguised (as poor man) as helperSupernatural godfather. A king chooses as the godfather of his son the first man he meets. The godfather proves to be supernaturalHelpful genie (spirit)Helpful angelFairy as helperSanta Claus as bringer of Christmas giftsDeity as helperSky as helperSupernatural helpers – miscellaneous

wander