Motif family
Prophecy and Systematic Divination
Oracles, seers, omens, augury, divination methods, lot-casting, soothsaying, and systematic access to hidden or future knowledge. Distinct from dream_and_vision because prophecy involves established methods and roles rather than spontaneous altered perception.
53 traditions
618 occurrences
602 mapped motifs
12 sub-families
- ainu
- amazonian
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- arthurian
- australian aboriginal
- biblical
- buddhist
- celtic
- celtic irish
- celtic welsh
- christian apocrypha
- comparative
- confucian
- daoist
- egyptian
- estonian
- filipino
- finnish karelian
- germanic
- gnostic
- greek
- greek roman
- hawaiian
- hindu
- hopi
- indigenous australian
- inuit
- islamic
- islamicate folklore
- jewish christian
- jewish pseudepigrapha
- khoisan south african
- malagasy
- maya
- melanesian
- mesopotamian
- nahua maya inca
- native american great lakes
- native american northeast woodlands
- native american northwest coast
- native american plains
- native american southeast
- native american southwest
- navajo
- norse
- persian
- roman
- romanian
- shan
- slavic
- sufi
- zuni
Conserved neighbors: sacred knowledge · dream and vision · divine judgment · royal legitimacy
Sub-families · the next landing down
Animal and Bird Omens
12 motifs
- oracle fulfilled through animal emblems 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- animal associated with prophecy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- animal omen interpreted as war and peace 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- augural bird-sign prompting battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- bird omen confirms companions' safety 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- divine animal omen before battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- divine lordship over omen birds and animals 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- omen of favorable birds at parting 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- omen of fortune from bird flight 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- ominous animals and bodily portent before disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous carrion birds and blood after battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- supernatural battle omen by birds and demons 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Battle and War Portents
20 motifs
- Ominous blood-cloud before battle 3 occurrences · 2 traditions
- celtic
- celtic irish
- battle deferred until prophecy and leader’s recovery 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- battle delayed until favorable omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- battle omen at the ford 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Blood-water portent of slaughter 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- celestial portent before battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- doom prophecy before raid 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- foretold champion who will devastate an army 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Heavenly omen inaugurates battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- hero rejects omen in favor of martial duty 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- omen accepted as divine call to arms 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- omens announcing war before settlement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- omens guiding pursuit 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- prophecy marks that a hero will not die in a given fight 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophecy of battlefield slaughter and carrion birds 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophecy of enemy's fall invoked before combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Prophecy of the hero sacking the hold 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophetic battlefield doom speech 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- War goddess incites battle and foretells slaughter 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- War omen through praise-song 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Death and Doom Omens
16 motifs
- Prophecy of the hero's death and burial place 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- celtic
- celtic irish
- blood omen from heaven before heroic death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Blood omen revealing absent hero's danger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- bodily omen before death or disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- death by pyre as omen to departing enemy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Death omen produced by ritual failure or contact with the Death figure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Death omen recognized through harp sound 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- dying prophecy of the slayer's death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Dying warrior foretells conqueror's death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- fatal omens before self-destruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- foreknown tomb and name 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- daoist
- foretold alternatives of death and chosen heroic death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- peaceful death foretold after old age and completed rites 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- prophecy of violent death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Sacred-site omen synchronized with holy successor’s death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- vain augury before unavoidable death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Bodily, Material, and Mishap Omens
6 motifs
- Auspicious flame omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- blood omen in an abandoned object 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Bodily omen of right and left eye throbbing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- ominous hunger prophecy recalled during journey 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- ominous mishap before sending a message 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- sympathetic omen of flourishing or withering 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
Dream Omens
2 motifs
- Safe crossing versus broken bridge as dream omen 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
- dreams as omens governing weather, health, luck, victory, and hunting 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- ainu
Naming and Divergent-Fate Omens
2 motifs
- divine sign and naming omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- omen marking divergent fates 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
Divination Methods and Implements
13 motifs
- divination with yew wands 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Casting lots to reveal a hidden offender 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divination by burning branch 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- divination by lots before undertaking an enterprise 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- divinatory arrows held by cult images 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- lot-cast guardianship decision 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Lot-casting with marked and blank arrows 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- love-divination through garlands and fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- Marked-lot divination for choosing action or target 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Omen-based divination 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- plant used for omen drawing on a calendrical feast day 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- riddle observance connected with dreams, divination, or corpse presence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- ritual request for augury before a perilous journey 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Oracles and Prophetic Agents
11 motifs
- foreign war used as religious validation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- human embodiment of a god as oracle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- mediation between gods and humans 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- oracle-commanded marriage to first-met stranger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- oracle-directed embassy for divine aid 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- oracle-directed healing quest 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- oracle objects kept in a sacred or idol temple 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic announcement of a later messenger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophetic power retained after metamorphosis 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Prophetic water divinities 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Temporary divine possession producing prophecy or divination 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
Prophecy, Fulfillment, and Avoidance
11 motifs
- child exposed because of a threatening prophecy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Concealed identity of the prophesied threat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- death foretold by oracle and fulfilled despite avoidance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Feared oracle fulfilled despite attempted avoidance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Oracle warning fulfilled through misinterpretation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Prophecy fulfilled by the hero 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Prophecy fulfilled despite protective concealment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamicate folklore
- prophecy fulfilled in mutual mortal combat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- prophecy fulfilled through attempted avoidance 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- prophecy fulfilled through attempted violence 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Prophecy of future trouble after killing a hidden king 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Personal Destiny and Kinship Prophecies
11 motifs
- Birth visitation and destiny gifts 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- defeated king’s prophecy of future avenger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- infant omen of future wealth and frugality 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Prior-birth Bodhisatta receives prophecy of future Buddhahood 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Prophecy concerning an exceptional figure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- prophecy of destruction surrounding a woman 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Prophecy of future Buddhahood after a meritorious encounter 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- prophecy of reversal after defeat 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- prophecy of vengeance for slain kin 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- prophecy-shadowed union leading toward doom 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- seized prize not retained 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Civic, Marriage, and Communal Signs
12 motifs
- animal sign and cult foundation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- contested installation and prophecy of order’s increase 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- desolate capital as omen of disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- fiery omen on a bride-to-be 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- immovable deity as civic omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- ominous wedding signs preceding death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- oracle-guided city foundation by ambiguous sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Oracle-sanctioned marriage exception 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- oracle warning against marriage 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- prophecy of a future city 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Prophetic claimants within a religious community 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- rival prophetic claimants recur after the founder's death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Omen Interpretation and Response
12 motifs
- Ambiguous oracle misunderstood across generations 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Bad omen reversed by favorable interpretation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- failed or questioned auspicious prophecy 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- False omen exposed 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Ignored omen before destructive desire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Mistaken smoke portent 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- prophecy dismissed by its subject 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- prophetic warning ignored by doomed children 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- proud warrior ignores ominous warnings 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- unbelieved true prophecy before catastrophe 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- unheeded prophecy before catastrophe 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- wager over a sacred prediction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Not yet placed in a sub-family
474 motifs, showing the 60 most attested
- Prophecy of future Buddhahood 6 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- ignored warning before danger 3 occurrences · 2 traditions
- hopi
- persian
- bird divination 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- germanic
- greek
- Foretold defeat of an adversary 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- celtic
- celtic welsh
- ignored warning before catastrophe 2 occurrences · 2 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- native american southeast
- Absent auspicious signs 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- age-ending prophecy of sacred sign and eastern strangers 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- nahua maya inca
- Aged ruler foresees the ruin of house and city 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Allegorical animal-and-plant political oracle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- biblical
- Ambiguous animal speech as omen or message 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american plains
- Ambiguous omen transformed by favorable interpretation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- Ambiguous or misread divine omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- ambiguous oracle and death at the avoided sacred site 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Ambiguous prophecy fulfilled by reversal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- ancestral myth as prophecy of later history 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- animal announces hidden or approaching fate 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- slavic
- animal behavior as omen of approaching people 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- amazonian
- Animal companion defeated after prophetic warning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- romanian
- animal cry as rain omen or rain-making sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southeast
- animal fight as household bad-luck omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- shan
- Animal omen before a perilous threshold 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- animal omen of communal death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- animal omens before approaching peril 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Animal sign and oracle designate a settlement and temple site 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Animal sign interpreted too late 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Animal sign interrupts quest and reveals danger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- indigenous australian
- animal warning of danger 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- animated weapons as omen of battle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- armed muster as ominous warning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Army delays movement because of a hostile sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Artificial moon or staged celestial sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- assembly order as omen of social state 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- assurance of future Buddhaship by a former Buddha 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Astrological prediction of destiny 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- nahua maya inca
- astrologically foretold royal marriage and child 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- persian
- attempt to overturn a prophecy by killing the named exception 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- attempt to prevent a prophecy brings about its fulfillment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- auditory omen of a hero's approaching death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Auspicious and inauspicious bodily omens 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Auspicious and inauspicious signs during departure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- shan
- Auspicious river portent with horse and map 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- auspicious signs and prophecy contradicted by apparent fate 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Authorized prophetic mediator with divine words 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- Avian omen interpreted as mandate for attack 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Bad omen at the start of an expedition 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- persian
- bamboo burst and fibre omen by fire 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- shan
- battle delayed for favourable omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Battle delayed until auspicious omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Battle demons prophesy slaughter 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Battle exhortation foretelling blood and lamentation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Battle foretold through carrion animals and war-beasts 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Battle omens and portents 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- battle outcome determined by sorcerous inquiry and sacred timing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Battle outcome foretold by song, dance, or mourning 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american plains
- battle prophecy in verse 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- battlefield prophecy of slaughter by a feared warrior 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- battlefield scavenger omen 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- bird as messenger or sign 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- amazonian
- bird as omen-speaker 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- bird cry as death omen during illness 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- melanesian
Each motif link opens its evidence page: every tagged passage with its quote, and a path into the book where the passage lives.