Motif family
Divine Judgment and Moral Reckoning
The weighing, testing, or evaluation of souls, deeds, or peoples by divine authority. Includes afterlife judgment, earthly punishment for transgression, plagues as retribution, and the moral accounting that follows death.
105 traditions
11,108 occurrences
1,508 mapped motifs
11 sub-families
- aboriginal australian
- 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
- 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
- khoekhoe
- khoisan south african
- kikuyu
- kimbundu
- korean
- malagasy
- malay
- mangaian
- maori
- maya
- maya quiche
- melanesian
- mesopotamian
- micronesian
- mongol
- 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
- romanian
- samoan
- san
- shan
- shinto
- siberian
- sikh
- slavic
- sufi
- taoist
- temne
- tibetan buddhist
- tongan
- vietnamese
- yoruba
- zoroastrian
- zulu
- zuni
Conserved neighbors: descent · afterlife passage · sacrifice · covenant · world ages cosmic decline · jealous stepmother persecuted child · prophecy divination · curse blessing speech
Sub-families · the next landing down
Apocalypse and End Times
12 motifs
- animals and things speak as end-time sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animals gather under apocalyptic terror 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- apocalyptic barrier restraining Gog and Magog 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- cosmic portents at the last day 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- cosmic record and accumulated anguish 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Cosmic transformation at the day of judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Death figure riding through plague and famine 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- End-time creature emerging from the earth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- eschatological trumpet and universal terror 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Plague-originating daughter of death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Religious fragmentation before the rise of a new religious movement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- religious instruction before an irreversible final day 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Hell and Punitive Fire
13 motifs
- underworld punishment threat 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Banishment to fiery and watery torment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Burning associated with trial or judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Damned transformed into fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- fiery pit as instrument of religious persecution 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Fire as punishment of the wicked 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- hell fire as punitive consumption 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Impossible or endlessly repeated punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Infernal tree of punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Punishment by fire imagery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- punishment in hell-fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- punitive fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- punitive fire trap 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
Mirrored Retribution
30 motifs
- betrayer destroyed by own treachery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- bodily penalty mirrors the offending body part 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- captive as foreshadowed doom of captor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- corpse-dragger punished at the body 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- death by one's own hunting dogs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- dismemberment as admonitory example 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- fugitive hides in a place that fits his punishment or labor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Hostile weapon turned back upon attacker 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- ill-will rebounding on its instigator 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Mirrored retribution at the site of injury 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- moral inversion of successful injustice 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- plotter destroyed by his own destructive device 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- punishment mirrors the criminal's own method 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- pursuer becomes fugitive 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- pursuer becomes prey 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Pursuer shares the prey's fatal fate 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- retaliatory punishment mirroring the captive's former cruelty 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- revenge harms the avenger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- reversal of punishment onto persecutor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- ritual punishment through dismemberment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Sealed message carrying the bearer’s death warrant 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- slayer immediately slain by avenger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- supernatural retaliation for guileful acquisition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Thief accidentally made to perform honest labor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- treacherous sowing of discord yields fatal harvest 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- unwitting cannibal feast of kin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- villain punished by own method 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Violent race destroyed by its own hands 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- weapon turned back upon the attacker 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- wickedness destroys its bearer 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
Rejected Warner and Communal Destruction
56 motifs
- apostasy and replacement of a religious community 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- apostasy followed by divine replacement of a community 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- arch-rebel's cruel public end after long resistance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- community restored after deceiver's death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Death of a tyrant celebrated by the people 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- deceiver disclaims responsibility after judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- defeated ruler sent to the realm of death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Deliverance of a righteous household with an excluded family member 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- deliverance of the oppressed from a wicked city 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Divine attack on city foundations 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Divine or claimed divine commission to destroy religious enemies 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Divine or supernatural weapon slays deceiver 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Divine signs confront an opposing ruler 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Failed messenger punished by ruler 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- faith conquers military conquerors 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- faithful defiance before temporal power 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- faithful remnant contrasted with those left behind 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Final unrepaired destruction of a sanctuary 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Flood completing destruction of defeated enemies 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- ignored warning before collective water death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- innocent group threatened by collective punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Innocent or harmless figure punished with wrongdoers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- late peace counsel refused before final destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Mass entry into the divine religion after victory 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- merciful warning before destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Messenger rebukes a people for sexual transgression 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- messengers rejected by a city 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- misleading leaders blamed by followers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- monstrous animal as divine scourge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Monstrous birds preying on children before communal destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Persecuted truth prevails over worldly powers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- pious recognition opposed by impious companions 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Predecessor messengers mocked before later vindication 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Prophet opposed by wicked enemies 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Prophetic perseverance amid scoffing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic severed head foretells violent retribution 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophetic signs rejected by a ruler 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic warning rejected by a mocking audience 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic warning rejected by a people 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic warning rejected by affluent or former peoples 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Prophetic warning rejected by unbelievers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophets accused by unjust communities 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- public reversal of a hated official 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- punitive destruction of an opposing group 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- recognition and conversion after defeat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Rejected human messenger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Rejected messenger and earlier rejected apostles 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Rejected messengers and demanded signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rejected miracle signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Rejected miraculous sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rejected warner and inherited ancestral religion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rejected warner before punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- religious reform amid crisis 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Repeated public warning of social catastrophe 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- truth-telling messenger punished 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- wrathful envoy challenges a pleasure-bound ruler 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
False Accusation and Fraud Exposed
34 motifs
- Absurd exchange value reveals corruption 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- absurd valuation as moral exposure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- accusation of black magic leading to condemnation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- armed accuser summons a champion to prove treachery by combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- corrupt appointment leads to public humiliation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- destructive imitation of rewarded virtue 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- false abstainer revealed through intoxication 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- false accusation after rejected sexual advance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- False accusation by planted tokens and forged message 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- false accusation leads to bride's animal trampling 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- false accusation overturned by demonstrated virtue 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- false accusation reversed onto accuser 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- False accusation supported by planted treasure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- false blame for child murder 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- False healer exposed by a practical test 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- False or premature condemnation corrected by proper inquiry 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- false piety exposed by divine witness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- False piety exposed by temptation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- false tears and praised wrongdoing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- fatal accusation leading to death by frightened horses 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- fraud exposed by makers of the false treasure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- Impostor punished by authority 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- Knight vindicates a falsely blamed woman through combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Misleading friend causes spiritual loss 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Outward virtue concealing hidden injustice 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- patient righteous vindicated after persecution 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- public humiliation penance after alleged child-killing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Regret over a misleading companion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Self-imprecation to prove innocence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- successive false or mistaken confessions 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Temptation resisted and vindication by material sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- truth overcomes falsehood 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- vindication of an accused religious woman 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- wrong redressed by knightly combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
Repentance and Mercy
38 motifs
- repentance followed by divine mercy 3 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Charity and good deeds followed by heaven 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- condemned person requests a temporary reprieve to settle household obligations 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Conquest followed by clemency and selective punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Crisis piety at sea followed by relapse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- defeated opponent spared on condition of public atonement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Divine trial, repentance, and restoration 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Exclusive divine control of intercession 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- failed supplication for mercy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Filial devotion rewarded after death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- hope for mercy despite confessed sin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- hope subordinated to divine will 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- late repentance or charity sought at death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- magical punishment followed by reconciliation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- maternal intercession secures pardon 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Merciful forgiveness after confession of wrongdoing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- merciful reception after repentance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Merciful release after moral recognition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- merciful restoration after repentance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- mercy after persecution, perseverance, and repentance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Mercy and repentance before irreversible punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- mercy exceeding forgiveness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- mysterious one-eyed company under nightly penance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- mysterious ritual punishment followed by compassion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- penitence after revelation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Plea for mercy rejected after weighing benefit against harm 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Prayer in danger followed by forgetfulness after rescue 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prayer in distress followed by forgetfulness after deliverance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- recantation averting or reversing divine harm 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- repentance after ruined possession 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- repentance after transgression 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Repentance answered by forgiveness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- repentance before punishment and divine mercy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- repentance followed by restored household welfare 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- ritual purification of sin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ruler elicits confession through reassurance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Storm at sea prompting sincere supplication and later wavering 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- turning to God in adversity and relapsing after mercy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Pride, Greed, and Hubris
28 motifs
- insatiable hunger leading to self-consumption 3 occurrences · 2 traditions
- greek roman
- roman
- greed contrasted with temperance 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- persian
- counsel ignored before pursuit 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Cursed wasteland caused by grief and anger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Divine objection to human fortification 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- failed management of divine or solar vehicle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- fantasy of wealth from a small possession 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- fatal reversal of expected abundance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
- Futile human refuge before heavenly punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Futile works as mirage and darkness without divine light 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- greed escalating after acquisition of wealth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Greed for fruit leads to murder and retaliation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- greed transforms wealth into beggary 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- greedy coercion punished by overwhelming production 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- immodesty causing loss 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- impious and riotous man brought to ruin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- impious challenger cast down by divine thunder 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Insatiable appetite as curse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Madness replacing temperance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- modest gift rewarded, greedy choice punished 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- prosperous garden destroyed by fiery wind 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- runaway celestial vehicle causing disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- strong partner seizes all shares 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- wasteful heir dissipates inherited wealth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- wealth and children fail as protection before God 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- wealth as spiritual test and punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Wealth personified as a morally suspect companion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Wise counsel ignored before combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
Vengeance and Blood Guilt
31 motifs
- avenging insult to humble or marginal figures 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Child avenges murdered parent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- Cowardice in battle as collective blood-guilt 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- desecrated giant bird nest brings avian vengeance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- divine retaliation through love magic 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- family annihilation by supernatural arrows 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Hostile opponent rendered without posterity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- insult remembered and repaid 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- judge washes hands of blood guilt 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- maternal self-punishment by sword 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- parental vengeance for dead child 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- private vengeance followed by public judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Proportionate vengeance followed by divine assistance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- punitive sword sent for suicide after incestuous pregnancy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Pursuit by inescapable avenging powers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- reciprocal loss of offspring as revenge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- retaliation for insult to vulnerable or low-status figures 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- retribution for cruelty to a helpful animal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- ritualized vengeance by fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- Royal woman degraded as punishment for political insult 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- Sacred tree violation and retribution 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- soul bird demanding blood vengeance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- subterranean household beings punish neglect 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- successive animal and object helpers punish offender 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- Supernatural avenger emerging from smoke 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- supernatural hound as avenging agent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- vengeance for insult and prior deceit 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- vengeful destruction of an enemy people 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- vengeful rejection of reconciliation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- violated protection followed by vengeance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- violence against a suppliant at an altar 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Moral Causality and Consequence
129 motifs
- Divine Judgment 9,578 occurrences · 104 traditions
- aboriginal australian
- african akan
- african bantu
- afro caribbean
- ainu
- akan
- amazonian
- andamanese
- +96 more
- Ingratitude toward a benefactor 4 occurrences · 3 traditions
- buddhist
- greek
- shan
- Divine maintenance of cosmic order 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Ingratitude after rescue 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- buddhist
- sufi
- Stone-circle judgment assembly 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Ancestral exemplars judging later imitators 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Animal fable of stronger over weaker 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- animal-mark punishment for foolish judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Appearance of virtue rewarded over virtue itself 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- betrayal of duty punished 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Body and soul jointly liable 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- burden of toil 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- chain of transferred blame 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Children punished for father's offense 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- chosen destiny and moral responsibility 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- claim to divide the earth rejected by divine ownership 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Complaint against unjust cosmic order 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Consolation in enemy's equal ruin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Cosmic scale against a small cast object 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- court culprit seized for punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Creation for moral testing and guidance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Creator as potter shaping and judging vessels 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- creator destroys created vessel 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- deceptive speaker as destroyer of land 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Deeds bear delayed consequences 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Defeated rival gains by another's downfall 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Deity’s favour and displeasure control fertility and famine 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- deity with absolute power over life and death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Delayed consequence after escaped antagonist 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Deliverance from peril followed by ingratitude 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- disguised catastrophe mistaken for blessing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- disguised deity receives mortal hospitality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- disguised envoy tests unknown strangers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- disobedience after victory brings losses 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- distinguishing coerced dependents from culpable enemies 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- divine act of humanity contrasted with divine cruelty 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- divine agency and human culpability in tension 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- divine aid withdrawn by higher divine order 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Divine compulsion used to explain human wrongdoing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Divine decree overrides individual choice 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divine fault-finder 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- divine judgment of a cultural invention 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- divine life and death sovereignty 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Divine provision withheld or granted 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divine punishment by water 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divine storm destroys vessel 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- ethical command 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- Ethical justice over kinship and status 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- exile or death as punishment for crime 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- failed guardian punished after youth’s peril 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Faithful wives attain heaven and glory 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- false alliance leading to destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- False warning leads to self-destruction by inaction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- fatal disregard of flight warning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- fatal summons disguised as honor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Fate as karmic consequence across births 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Former act produces present miracle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Friendship or enmity with just gods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- heroic life performed before a judging community 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- hidden evils creeping into the city 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- holiness code 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- household impiety extended to civic tyranny 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Human free agency and moral recompense 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Human ingratitude toward the divine 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Human stewardship or succession as a divine test 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Hydra-like recurrence of corruption 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- impossible-task warnings against transgression 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Improper or unfair combat punished 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Inherited character and Karma 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- inhospitable host tests a god with murder and human flesh 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Judgment and ranking of lives 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- killing from concealment justified by hunting analogy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- life as race ending in crown or disgrace 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- madness-caused mistaken killing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Measure and judgment in disputation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- missed opportunity leading to destructive remorse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Monstrous recurrence of civic evils 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Moral causality as sowing and harvest 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- moral consequence following action 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- nonlethal but near-fatal heroic punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- numerical measure of moral distance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Obdurate unbelief as constriction and blindness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- origin of evil and need for labor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- past deed causing present incapacity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- personified abstract condition paired with due consequence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Personified obedient cosmos 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- play judgment becomes real judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- power ignores innocence and consumes victim 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- primordial transgression argued as predestined 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- public witness to punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- punishment for aiding an enemy side 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- punishment of negligent caregivers by released water 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- punitive bodily disfigurement as a visible mark 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- purging the noble instead of the corrupt 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- reckoning of unfulfilled perfections 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- refusal of military aid because of divine resentment and past disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Refusal to enter destined holy land and resulting wandering 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- restoration of stolen property through adjudication 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- retributive punishment of an unrepentant wrongdoer 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- Righteous across communities rewarded by God 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- righteous rewarded after moral testing or distinction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- ritual prohibition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- river deity opposes excessive slaughter 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- ruler persuaded to kill a benefactor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- sacred mark borne for judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Sea vessels subject to divine wind and judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Sealed perception of the negligent unbeliever 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- signs in destroyed predecessors and revived land 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Small disorder growing into total civic disorder 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- small injustice growing into large oppression 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- persian
- social behavior of a species explained by punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- Speech brings ruin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- spiritual blindness and deafness after covenant violation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Spiritual obstruction through sealed faculties 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Succession on earth as divine test 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- suffering of the poor rising upward as destructive force 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- persian
- test reveals unchanged nature 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- theft punished by death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- thoughtless friends harm the helpless 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- thoughtless play causes death to others 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Transmigration of the soul with final recompense 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- unaware kin after punishment of family members 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- unfair or morally burdened victory 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Unfair or preemptive killing in a duel criticized by another warrior 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- ungrateful ruler betrays rescuer 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- unheeded request leads to punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Virtuous elder rewarded after miraculous act 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- well-meant repayment causing destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- witness-mediated judgment of fault after killing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Idolatry and False Gods
35 motifs
- punishment for doctrinal refusal 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Adversarial being followed by the unfaithful majority 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- calf idol fashioned and worshipped in leader's absence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Challenge to powerless idols 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- competing or false prophet defeated 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Deceiver enemy leading followers to hell 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- demonic companion of the one who ignores warning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- desecration of ascetic rites by violent beings 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Destruction of former idols by reforming authority 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- destruction of idols after miraculous proof 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- diabolic request for snares to catch humans 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Divine protector versus powerless false gods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- False gods fail their worshippers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- false prophet exposed and overthrown 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Fearless destruction of a powerless idol 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Iconoclasm against idols 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Iconoclasm and purification of a central city 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Loss of signs and satanic seduction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- misdirected worship of powerless beings 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Monotheistic challenge to rival gods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- penitential purification after misdirected worship 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Penitential supplication after household idolatry 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Powerless false gods exposed by a small creature 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- powerless idols contrasted with divine protection 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rejected morally flawed gods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- resistance to a god’s rites 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Ritual derision or defective worship at a holy house 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Satan as declared foe and misleader 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Satanic seduction away from right worship 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Satanic suggestion tested and nullified by God 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- tempter disavows the tempted 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Tempting adversary's path 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- tempting path of the devil 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- test of divinity through impious meal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Unseen demonic patrons of unbelievers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Not yet placed in a sub-family
1,076 motifs, showing the 60 most attested
- Rejected seduction followed by false accusation 3 occurrences · 3 traditions
- greek
- native american northeast woodlands
- native american plains
- deceiver punished after exposure 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- georgian
- germanic
- false accusation after rejected seduction 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- native american northeast woodlands
- native american plains
- all-seeing divine surveillance 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- zoroastrian
- Righteous servants inherit the earth 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- treacherous brothers exposed and punished 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- slavic
- Virtue visible from afar and vice hidden in darkness 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- wronged woman nursing wrath until revenge 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Abandonment of divine signs followed by Satanic seduction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Accidental killing of a supernatural protector 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Accidental kin-killing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Accidental threshold crossing and false sexual accusation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Accomplice spouse shares condemnation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- account of Evil in human history 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- accusation before a ruler leading to persecution 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- Accusation, denial, acknowledgement, and lawful consequence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Accusation tested by structured inquiry 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Accused messenger vindicated by divine assurance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Accused religious teacher before secular authority 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- acknowledgment of wrongdoing followed by amendment and restraint 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- adversary's vow to seduce with chosen servants excepted 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Adversity prayer followed by relapse after mercy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- After-death moral consequence for harm 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Afterlife doom for grave communal rupture 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- afterlife garden reward 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- afterlife precedence of the poor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- afterlife punishment by hell-fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- persian
- afterlife reversal or humbling of an enemy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Aggressor killed by the weapon or method used against victims 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Agricultural desolation and ceased vintage joy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- biblical
- all-seeing celestial witness exposes adultery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Ambush reversed by rock entrapment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Ambusher punished by concealed countermeasures 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- afro caribbean
- Anger and enmity producing communal discord 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Angered weather being causes immobility and scarcity 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Animal ally discerns and destroys traitors 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- arthurian
- Animal avenger restores peace to bereaved household 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- animal avenger that distinguishes guilty from innocent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- arctic inuit
- animal councils judge and punish humans 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southeast
- Animal court adjudicates a human grievance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- akan
- animal court adjudicates theft accusation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- khoisan south african
- Animal-dwelling destruction followed by drowning retribution 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Animal helper avenges a murdered household member 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- animal judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- khoisan south african
- Animal justice for a slain victim 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- animal mark after faulty judgment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Animal witness reports hidden violence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hawaiian
- animals gathering against natural behavior under cosmic terror 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animals sensing hidden corruption 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- animate household objects and animals retaliate 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- maya quiche
- Animated mountain checked by divine authority 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Animated offended stone pursues offender 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american plains
- annihilating punishment at cosmic dissolution 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- gnostic
- Antagonist and company destroyed by fire in a locked house 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Antagonist pronounces her own punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- slavic
- Apostolic judgment and full submission 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- appeal to animal sovereigns for justice 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- slavic
- Appeal to celestial witnesses while denying guilt 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- Appearance versus intrinsic moral reality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Artist neglects hunting duty and is punished with supervision 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- australian aboriginal
Each motif link opens its evidence page: every tagged passage with its quote, and a path into the book where the passage lives.