Motif family
World Axis and Sacred Center
The vertical axis connecting heaven, earth, and underworld. Manifests as world tree, sacred mountain, cosmic pillar, temple, ladder, or any structure that marks the center of the cosmos and enables communication between levels of reality.
99 traditions
3,374 occurrences
284 mapped motifs
11 sub-families
- african akan
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- armenian
- arthurian
- australian aboriginal
- basque
- bavili
- biblical
- buddhist
- burmese
- buryat mongol
- caucasian
- celtic
- celtic irish
- celtic welsh
- chaco amerindian
- christian apocrypha
- comparative
- confucian
- daoist
- egyptian
- ekoi
- estonian
- ethiopian christian
- fijian
- filipino
- finnic
- finnish karelian
- fjort
- ganda
- georgian
- germanic
- gnostic
- greek
- greek roman
- guiana amerindian
- hausa
- hawaiian
- hermetic
- hindu
- hopi
- inca
- indigenous australian
- inuit
- islamic
- islamicate folklore
- jain
- japanese
- jewish christian
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- kikuyu
- korean
- malagasy
- malay
- mangaian
- maori
- maya
- maya quiche
- melanesian
- mesopotamian
- micronesian
- mongol
- nahua
- nahua maya inca
- native american california
- native american great lakes
- native american northeast woodlands
- native american northwest coast
- native american plains
- native american plateau
- native american southeast
- native american southwest
- navajo
- norse
- oceanic
- persian
- roman
- samoan
- san
- shan
- shinto
- siberian
- sikh
- slavic
- sufi
- taoist
- tibetan buddhist
- tongan
- vietnamese
- yoruba
- zoroastrian
- zulu
- zuni
Conserved neighbors: ascent · descent · theophany · sacred fire
Sub-families · the next landing down
Sacred Trees, Groves, and Tree Cult Places
13 motifs
- Sacred Tree Or Axis Mundi 1,063 occurrences · 86 traditions
- african akan
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- andamanese
- armenian
- +78 more
- sacred tree at consecrated place 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Sacred oak as divine tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Sacred grove or tree-place at Dodona 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Sacred grove consecrated to a pastoral deity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Sacred grove as temple setting 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- tree or bough as bearer of unseen divine presence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Sacred courtyard tree tended by the household woman 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- deity produces a sacred civic tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- consecrated tree or grove associated with deities 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- holy grove retains power of absent saints 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- reverence and circumambulation of a sacred tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- honored performance place marked by a tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Divinized, Animate, and Wonder-Working Trees
10 motifs
- Wounded or bleeding tree 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- sacred or divine tree as personal emblem 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- sacred or animate tree and plant embodiment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- wood-god with tree branch attribute 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Tree-associated god 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Speaking or personified trees 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Souled or animate trees 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Ensouled trees and vegetation spirits 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- deity associated with sacred tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- aromatic resin exuding like drops from a sacred or valued tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
Tree Refuges, Recovery, and Preservation
8 motifs
- sacred tree as place of recovery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Vast rooting tree as sheltering structure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Tree-top refuge during pursuit 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- tree refuge under siege 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- single spared tree amid destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- saving tree or shrub 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Sacred tree preserved amid destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- children hidden inside a tree dwelling 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
Trees in Mythic Action, Vows, and Memory
8 motifs
- tree transformed into coffin vessel 104 occurrences · 41 traditions
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- bavili
- buddhist
- celtic
- celtic irish
- chaco amerindian
- +33 more
- Hero uproots or transports a great tree 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- sacred tree or root obstructing a weapon 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Sacred tree as site of pledge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Sacred tree worship and destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Guarded supernatural tree and forbidden berries 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- mythic person remembered through a tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- immovable bed rooted in a tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Mountains, Sacred Peaks, and Mountain Powers
12 motifs
- Cosmic Mountain 756 occurrences · 70 traditions
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- armenian
- australian aboriginal
- biblical
- buddhist
- buryat mongol
- caucasian
- +62 more
- ascent through inaccessible mountains 94 occurrences · 32 traditions
- ainu
- arctic inuit
- basque
- buddhist
- buryat mongol
- caucasian
- daoist
- estonian
- +24 more
- sacred mountain 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- australian aboriginal
- jewish christian
- sacred mountain station for devotion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- sacred mountain retreat of divine singers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- sacred mountain pilgrimage setting 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- sacred mountain associated with ecstatic rites 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Sacred mountain as ascetic refuge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Hero’s withdrawal to a sacred mountain residence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Giant leader perceived as a moving mountain 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- purifying sight of sacred peaks 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- holy mountain refuge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
Mountain Walls, Refuges, and Cairn Routes
3 motifs
- dangerous outsiders contained by a mountain wall 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- protective mountain refuge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- journey toward mountain cairn 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Sacred Caves, Bridges, and Heaven-Earth Thresholds
7 motifs
- caves consecrated to a pastoral god 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Sacred cave with mortal and divine entrances 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- sacralized crossing bridge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- rainbow as bridge between heaven and earth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- mythic beings mediate between earth and heaven 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- imprisoned luminaries in mountain cavern 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- impossible barrier reaching heaven 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
Temples, Cities, and Sacred Foundations
8 motifs
- World Center 1,070 occurrences · 72 traditions
- african bantu
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- armenian
- australian aboriginal
- bavili
- biblical
- buddhist
- +64 more
- seven planetary temples 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Elevated palace-city with celestial imagery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- earth-shaking foundation of a religious center 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- divine foundation of a sacrificial center 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- sanctuary established through subduing a local water power 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Central temple cult image surrounded by other divine images 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- holy house with sacred stones 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Cosmic Bearers and Sky Supports
4 motifs
- hero temporarily bears the heavens 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- directional divine elephants 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- world-bearing figure strained by cosmic disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- repair of damaged sky and heavenly support 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
Cosmic Realms and Between-World Containment
3 motifs
- Underworld threatened by cosmic rupture 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- tripartite cosmic realm 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- suspension between heaven and earth to contain power 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
Sacred Orientation, Pilgrimage, and Place Entry
7 motifs
- Sacred orientation toward a holy center 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- sacred orientation in prayer 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- islamic
- sufi
- sacred or myth-marked landscape 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- solemn pilgrimage to a sacred city 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- continuity of sacred landscape after cultic disappearance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- ritual reverence before entering or passing a holy place 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ritual circuit of sacred urban places 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
Not yet placed in a sub-family
201 motifs, showing the 60 most attested
- animal-form tree-god 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- animal trail through mountain opening 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- animate or personified mountain 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Anointed stone pillar at a place of divine speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- Assembly at sacred mountain for lawgiving 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Bleeding tree that resists felling 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- Bodisat as tree deity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Bodisat as tree-god or tree-associated spirit 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- bounded enclosure protecting cultivated religious space 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- bounded sacred court with controlled entrance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- Cardinal sacred mountain circuit 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- cardinally oriented gates 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Care of a sacred courtyard tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- catalogued mythic geography of homes and bridge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- central measuring standard regulating the surrounding order 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- Central tree and fountain as adventure locus 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Chosen divine dwelling-place for communal worship 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- city of divine presence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- biblical
- Cleansed and perfected sacred building 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- Consecrated grove as sacred landscape marker 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Consecrated tree and grove of deities 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- cosmic animal bearer and supported sky 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- egyptian
- cosmic animal support causing earthquakes 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- shan
- Cosmic supports holding the earth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- cosmic supports separating earth and heaven 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Cosmic supports uphold heaven 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- egyptian
- creation of the rainbow as a sky-road 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- cross as foundation of the kingdom and life 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- cross as four-wind sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- nahua maya inca
- cross associated with four winds 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- nahua maya inca
- Cult foundation at a deity-chosen site 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Cut or doubled sacred tree episode 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- egyptian
- dedication of sacred places and cult monuments 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- defeated being buried under a mountain 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- deity beneath and supporting the star-bearing heaven 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- egyptian
- deity distributed through cardinal points and mountain tops 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- nahua maya inca
- deity embodied in or represented by a tree or post 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Deity enclosed in or residing in a tree 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- directional beings support and guard the earth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Divine beings dwelling in caves, cliff-dwellings, and sacred mountains 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- navajo
- divine conference on a named mountain 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- persian
- divine dwelling inside a mountain 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- divine foundation of local temple and rites 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Divine supporters of the four corners of heaven 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- maya
- Domestic worship space established under pressure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Earthly sanctuary as image of divine hall 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- elevated fortified royal center with surrounding water 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Envoy’s journey along wind and rainbow road 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- Exalted and inaccessible mountain of release 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Exceptional mythic tree imagery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Flight to mountain refuge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- mongol
- flight to mountain refuge after attack 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southeast
- Foundation centre linked to prior omen location 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- shan
- foundation of a worship center after relocation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- four color-designated mountains around a mythic locality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- Four-direction mountain setting 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- Four directional supports of the sky 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Four sky-bearers and the ordered directions 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Fourfold cardinal ordering of sacred city space 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- nahua maya inca
- fourfold stability as support of the world 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
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