Motif family
Sacred Craft and Divinely Aided Construction
Building, crafting, or constructing as a sacred act # the bridge built with divine aid, the temple constructed by the gods, the weapon forged with cosmic fire.
44 traditions
376 occurrences
373 mapped motifs
16 sub-families
- afro caribbean
- amazonian
- andamanese
- arctic inuit
- australian aboriginal
- biblical
- buddhist
- celtic irish
- celtic welsh
- christian apocrypha
- comparative
- confucian
- egyptian
- estonian
- filipino
- finnish karelian
- germanic
- greek
- greek roman
- guiana amerindian
- hawaiian
- hindu
- inuit
- islamic
- islamicate folklore
- japanese
- jewish christian
- maya
- mesopotamian
- micronesian
- nahua
- nahua maya inca
- native american northwest coast
- native american plains
- native american southeast
- native american southwest
- navajo
- norse
- persian
- roman
- shan
- slavic
- sufi
- zuni
Conserved neighbors: axis mundi · culture hero · sacred treasures
Sub-families · the next landing down
Miraculous Buildings, Temples, and Halls
10 motifs
- Animal communicates a request for sacred construction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- deity in disguise performs miraculous construction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- divine descent of a sacred architectural model 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- hero-host as builder of the communal hall 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- marvelous palace with deathless crafted guardians 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Primordial sacred architecture rebuilt on revealed model 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Sacred construction by ancestral figures 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Sacred object assisting temple construction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Supernatural construction by spirits 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Temple built to avert plague 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
Constructed Bridges and Mountain Passages
10 motifs
- army builds a bridge across the sea 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- bridge across the sea enabling army passage 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- crossing the sea by constructed bridge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- divinely inherited bridgecraft 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- hero cuts passage through mountain 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- heroic army crosses water by a constructed bridge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- heroic bridge fixed in sacred geography 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Impossible bridge made from a weapon 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- sea bridge built by a heroic craftsman figure 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- sea-crossing by constructed bridge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
Animated Images, Cult Objects, and Idols
5 motifs
- Animated cult image made by magical craft 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
- animated images responding to music 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- animation of a cult object by supernatural residue 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- deceptive supernatural agent creates or restores cult images 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- idolatrous animated image 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
Animated Clay and Manufactured Figures
4 motifs
- animation of clay creatures 2 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animated or life-like manufactured image 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animation of a clay bird by breath 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Crafted human image lacks animation or vital functions 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
Artificial Beings and Substitute Kin
6 motifs
- Artificially fashioned woman endowed by multiple gods 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- constructed clay helper with inadequate heart 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Failed artificial replacement of the Sun and Moon 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- magical simulacrum as emotional weapon 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- making substitute relatives from natural materials 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Repeated furnace creation produces unsuitable beings before the desired form 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
Divine Smiths and Supernatural Forges
6 motifs
- divine fire and metalworking craft 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Divine smith at the fiery forge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Subterranean dwarf smiths make magical divine gifts 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Supernatural smiths forge divine or magical objects 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- underground supernatural smiths and miners 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- volcanic underworld-like forge of divine weapons 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
Forged Weapons, Armor, and Rescue Tools
6 motifs
- divine smith and helpers forge a hero's armor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- divine smiths forging heavenly weapons 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Divinely forged replacement armor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- extraordinary smiths producing heroic swords 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Magical rescue-tool forged by smith 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Supernatural smiths make magic weapons 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
Unusual Materials for Magic Objects
6 motifs
- Forging a wondrous object from small or unlikely materials 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- living-body substance required as a functional implement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- magical craft from fragments 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Magical making from natural materials 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
- material's prior divine and natural states 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Wondrous object forged from extraordinary ingredients 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
Personified Craft Materials and Tools
3 motifs
- personified natural ingredients cooperate 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Personified tools or objects 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- comparative
- speaking trees disclose their fitness for sacred or magic craft 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
Crafting Trials and Miraculous Production
7 motifs
- craft feat performed through three ritualized blows 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- failed or dangerous first creation from magical furnace 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- forged abundance object 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Magic completion and launching of a vessel without physical labor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- magical craft production in a single night 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- trial creations before successful magic object 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- wonder-working hero makes a vessel from a small fragment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
Cosmic Scenes on Crafted Shields
4 motifs
- Cosmic water boundary on a crafted shield 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Cosmos represented on a crafted shield 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- crafted shield as animated miniature world 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- world-bounding ocean on a crafted shield 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Divine Makers and Craft Patrons
4 motifs
- Divine craftsmanship and radiant vehicle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- divinely aided mastery over craft and natural forces 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Goddess as patroness of textile crafts 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- Hierarchy of divine, crafted, and imitative making 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
Music That Builds and Musical Instrument Origins
2 motifs
- music or song as miraculous construction power 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- musical instrument origin account 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- sufi
Coerced and Obstructed Craft Labor
5 motifs
- Captive master smith under coercion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Deity serving as builder under punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- destructive overuse of strength and magic in assigned labor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- malicious interruption causing the maker's wound 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Obstructed magical smithing 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
Craft Rivalry and Excluded Makers
2 motifs
- excluded contributor completes sacred or meritorious work 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- buddhist
- Skilled strangers outcompete local craftsmen and provoke lethal hostility 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic welsh
Crafted Revenge and Fateful Harm
3 motifs
- fated craft that brings communal disaster 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Revenge through binding or immobilizing craft 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek roman
- smith's crafted revenge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
Not yet placed in a sub-family
290 motifs, showing the 60 most attested
- Tree transformed into canoe 3 occurrences · 3 traditions
- andamanese
- guiana amerindian
- micronesian
- Aetiology of ritual instruments 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- Ancestral weapon completed after the commissioner's death 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- Angelic construction and mediation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- Animal beings created from wood 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Animal-body images as crafted ritual objects 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- confucian
- Animal deity commands temple foundation 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hawaiian
- animal-drawn cart determines the sacred building site 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- animal-provided weapon materials and craft instruction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- zuni
- Animate game objects altering play 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- animate iron animal adversary 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- slavic
- Animated crafted shield-world 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- greek
- animated household object as supernatural obstacle 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Animated household tools assist a maiden 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Animated idol and communal worship 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- Animated idol made from collected precious ornaments 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animated idol through sacred trace material 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animated image 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- animated ritual objects synchronized with music 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- Animated vehicle that hears, walks, and must be fed 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- animated wax creature used for punishment 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- egyptian
- animated weapon 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- inuit
- animated weapons empowered by a wizard's breath 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- inuit
- Animation of a formed clay animal 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- islamic
- animation of beings from found natural materials 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- Animation of fashioned clay animals by command 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- Animation of formed clay creatures 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- armed men grown from sown dragon’s teeth 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- army crosses a sea barrier by bridge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- army crosses sea by constructed bridge 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Army transported across water by newly made boats 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- japanese
- artificial animal made from natural materials 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Artificial animal made to imitate desired livestock 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Artificial beloved brought to life 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- roman
- Artificial bride forged from precious metals 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- artificial double sent as substitute 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- artificial giant helper with inadequate heart 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Artificial spouse given life 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Artisan forges an oversized magical implement for an impossible retrieval 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- bird-skin blanket animated by shaking 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- birds attracted by grain to supply feathers for a construction task 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- afro caribbean
- blood-activated clay image 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- Body remains used for magical artifact construction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- Bridge across the sea enables invasion 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- canoe crafted for war 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Captive master smith forced to craft for a king 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Causeway over a bog made through extraordinary labor 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- celtic irish
- Center-outward ritual image making in directional order 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
- ceremonial house construction and naming 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american northwest coast
- Child imitation of sacred architecture 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- shan
- church foundation by master builder ending in fatal fall at cross placement 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- estonian
- Commanded construction of sacred dwelling 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- Communal rapid textile production of a magic net 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- finnish karelian
- Community as divine temple under construction 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- christian apocrypha
- composite body animated by magic song 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- arctic inuit
- Concealed helpers produce the credited work 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- germanic
- Constructed helper with inadequate heart 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- norse
- Construction of a bridge across the sea 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- hindu
- Construction of sacred dwelling and ritual furnishings 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- jewish christian
- coordinated attack on a harmful animated object 1 occurrences · 1 traditions
- native american southwest
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