Motif-Index of Folk-Literature/Volume 1/A/1100

by Stith Thompson

A1100—A1199. Establishment of natural order.

A1100. Establishment of natural order.

A530. Culture hero establishes law and order. A1300. Ordering of human life. M0. Judgments and decrees.

A1101. The four ages of the world. A development of the present order through four stages or periods, the golden, silver, bronze, and iron ages, or the like. — **Encyc. Religion and Ethics s.v. "Ages of the World". — Irish myth: Cross; Greek: Fox 17, Grote I 62; Hindu: Keith 105, Penzer IV 240 n. 1, VII 1 n. 5; Chinese: Ferguson 33.

A630. Series of creations.

A1101.1. Golden age. A former age of perfection. — Hdwb. d. Abergl. III 927ff. — Irish myth: Cross; Icel.: De la Saussaye 165, MacCulloch Eddic 327, 378 n. 49, Boberg; Lappish: Qvigstad FFC LX 35 No. 8; Greek: Fox 105, Grote I 62; Jewish: Neuman; Persian: Carnoy 300, 305; Hindu: Keith 103; India: Thompson-Balys. — Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G 13/50); Aztec: Alexander Lat. Am. 66; Carib: ibid 262; Ackawoi: ibid. 269.

A1346.2. Man must labor for a living: at first everything too easy. M324. Prophecy: future golden age.

A1101.1.1. Reign of peace and justice (under certain king). Icel.: Herrmann Saxo II 377; Irish myth: Cross; Persian: Carnoy 300, 305; Jewish: Neuman; Chinese: Ferguson 33.

P12.5. Good king never retreats in battle. Q153. Nature benign and fruitful during reign of good king. Q552.3. Failure of crops during reign of wicked king.

A1101.1.2. Even trees could speak in golden age. India: Thompson-Balys.

A1101.1.3. Former age: spirits and ogres lived with men, and gods appeared in human guise. India: Thompson-Balys.

A1101.2. Reversal of nature in former age.

A1101.2.1. Formerly men plowed and cattle were their masters. India: Thompson-Balys.

A1101.2.2. Formerly men ate grass: cattle ate rice and pulse. India: Thompson-Balys.

A1101.2.3. Formerly men dumb: birds and animals talked. India: Thompson-Balys.

A1101.2.4. Formerly men could go safely beneath the sea. Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 13/50).

A1102. Why powers of nature work on Sabbath. Jewish: Neuman.

A1103. Nature transformed by God once in seven years. Jewish: Neuman.

A1110. Establishment of present order: waters.

A1111. Impounded water. Water is kept by monster so that mankind cannot use it. A hero defeats the monster and releases the water. (The monster is sometimes a giant frog.) — *Chauvin VI 3 No. 181, VII 132 No. 399. — Hindu: Keith 33 (guarded by dragon); India: Page:Thompson Motif-Index 2nd 1.djvu/201 Page:Thompson Motif-Index 2nd 1.djvu/202 Page:Thompson Motif-Index 2nd 1.djvu/203 Page:Thompson Motif-Index 2nd 1.djvu/204 Page:Thompson Motif-Index 2nd 1.djvu/205 Page:Thompson Motif-Index 2nd 1.djvu/206 Page:Thompson Motif-Index 2nd 1.djvu/207

A1185. Wings cut from flying mountains. In beginning mountains have wings. They are cut off by thunderbolt. — Hindu: Penzer VI 3 n. 1; India: Thompson-Balys.

A969.1. Mountains fight each other: cause of their present shape. F750. Extraordinary mountains and valleys.

A1186. Measuring the world. India: Thompson-Balys.

A1187. Creator appoints a chief for each class of created things: Lucifer for demons, Sion for mountains, etc. — Irish myth: Cross; Jewish: Neuman.

A1191. All things receive names. Chinese: Graham; Jewish: Neuman.

A1195. Origin of echo. Eskimo (Cumberland Sound): Boas BAM XV 172.

A1196. Why salt disappeared from forests. S. Am. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503.