Comparative mythology corpus

Motif Index

9072 motif groups and 31658 evidence-linked appearances.

Pattern discovery

Motifs That Travel Across Worlds

The atlas does not treat resemblance as proof of copying. It makes recurring symbolic structures visible, then keeps the evidence close enough to inspect.

58 motifs appear in more than one tradition

Cross-Tradition Motifs

22 traditions

Death And Rebirth

Biblical, Celtic Irish, Celtic Welsh, Egyptian, Persian, Norse, Roman, Ainu, Islamicate Folklore, Indigenous Australian, Buddhist, Daoist, Sufi, Comparative, Greek, Japanese, Finnish/Karelian, Islamic, Hindu, Greek/Roman, Maya/Kiche, Mesopotamian

22 traditions

Initiation

Biblical, Buddhist, Celtic Irish, Confucian, Daoist, Egyptian, Persian, Norse, Roman, Islamicate Folklore, Indigenous Australian, Sufi, Comparative, Greek, Japanese, Finnish/Karelian, Islamic, Celtic Welsh, Hindu, Greek/Roman, Maya/Kiche, Mesopotamian

21 traditions

Wisdom

Biblical, Buddhist, Celtic Irish, Confucian, Daoist, Persian, Norse, Roman, Greek, Ainu, Islamicate Folklore, Indigenous Australian, Sufi, Comparative, Japanese, Finnish/Karelian, Islamic, Celtic Welsh, Hindu, Greek/Roman, Mesopotamian

21 traditions

Divine Judgment

Biblical, Egyptian, Norse, Roman, Greek, Ainu, Islamicate Folklore, Indigenous Australian, Buddhist, Daoist, Sufi, Celtic Irish, Comparative, Persian, Japanese, Finnish/Karelian, Islamic, Celtic Welsh, Hindu, Greek/Roman, Maya/Kiche

20 traditions

Ascent

Biblical, Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Ainu, Islamicate Folklore, Indigenous Australian, Buddhist, Daoist, Sufi, Celtic Irish, Comparative, Persian, Japanese, Finnish/Karelian, Islamic, Celtic Welsh, Hindu, Greek/Roman, Norse

19 traditions

Sacred Exchange

Biblical, Confucian, Roman, Greek, Ainu, Islamicate Folklore, Indigenous Australian, Buddhist, Sufi, Celtic Irish, Comparative, Persian, Japanese, Finnish/Karelian, Islamic, Celtic Welsh, Hindu, Greek/Roman, Norse

19 traditions

Departure

Biblical, Celtic Irish, Persian, Roman, Greek, Ainu, Islamicate Folklore, Indigenous Australian, Buddhist, Daoist, Sufi, Comparative, Japanese, Finnish/Karelian, Islamic, Celtic Welsh, Hindu, Greek/Roman, Norse

19 traditions

Royal Legitimacy

Biblical, Celtic Welsh, Confucian, Persian, Norse, Roman, Greek, Islamicate Folklore, Indigenous Australian, Buddhist, Daoist, Celtic Irish, Comparative, Japanese, Finnish/Karelian, Islamic, Hindu, Sufi, Greek/Roman

Tradition Bridges

Tradition PairShared MotifsMotifs
Greek + Roman50Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Greek/Roman + Roman48Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Greek + Norse47Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Norse + Roman47Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Greek + Greek/Roman46Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Greek + Hindu46Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Greek + Islamic46Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Hindu + Roman46Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Greek/Roman + Hindu45Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Greek/Roman + Norse45Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Hindu + Norse45Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Islamic + Roman44Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Celtic Irish + Greek43Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter
Celtic Irish + Norse43Wisdom, Divine Judgment, Sacred Exchange, Sacrifice, Mystical Quest, Departure, Royal Legitimacy, Shapeshifter

Tradition Signal Strength

Greek5119
Islamic4692
Sufi3888
Hindu3138
Roman2820
Celtic Irish2435
Comparative2113
Greek/Roman1195
Buddhist1059
Norse1031
Finnish/Karelian936
Celtic Welsh683
Daoist682
Islamicate Folklore601
Persian408
Japanese372
Indigenous Australian192
Ainu176
Biblical74
Confucian13
Maya/Kiche11
Egyptian10
Mesopotamian10
wisdom

Wisdom

Ainu (11), Buddhist (340), Celtic Irish (84), Celtic Welsh (22), Comparative (6), Confucian (6), Daoist (360), Finnish/Karelian (114), Greek (864), Greek/Roman (43), Hindu (120), Indigenous Australian (3), Islamic (516), Islamicate Folklore (41), Japanese (17), Biblical (8), Mesopotamian (4), Norse (60), Persian (241), Roman (77), Sufi (884)

3821 appearances
divine_judgment

Divine Judgment

Ainu (12), Buddhist (4), Celtic Irish (13), Celtic Welsh (6), Comparative (4), Daoist (1), Egyptian (2), Finnish/Karelian (4), Greek (273), Greek/Roman (82), Hindu (105), Indigenous Australian (2), Islamic (1212), Islamicate Folklore (4), Japanese (4), Biblical (4), Maya/Kiche (2), Norse (34), Persian (20), Roman (198), Sufi (212)

2198 appearances
sacred_exchange

Sacred Exchange

Ainu (11), Buddhist (53), Celtic Irish (98), Celtic Welsh (43), Comparative (123), Confucian (1), Finnish/Karelian (35), Greek (219), Greek/Roman (52), Hindu (167), Indigenous Australian (1), Islamic (157), Islamicate Folklore (23), Japanese (25), Biblical (4), Norse (51), Persian (19), Roman (86), Sufi (94)

1262 appearances
sacrifice

Sacrifice

Buddhist (26), Celtic Irish (8), Celtic Welsh (3), Comparative (342), Daoist (9), Finnish/Karelian (5), Greek (128), Greek/Roman (52), Hindu (169), Indigenous Australian (2), Islamic (74), Islamicate Folklore (8), Japanese (4), Biblical (4), Norse (15), Persian (3), Roman (106), Sufi (53)

1011 appearances
mystical_quest

Mystical Quest

Buddhist (12), Celtic Irish (74), Celtic Welsh (72), Comparative (1), Daoist (36), Finnish/Karelian (38), Greek (36), Greek/Roman (18), Hindu (65), Islamic (13), Islamicate Folklore (13), Japanese (16), Norse (11), Persian (10), Roman (13), Sufi (540)

968 appearances
departure

Departure

Ainu (2), Buddhist (46), Celtic Irish (110), Celtic Welsh (33), Comparative (11), Daoist (11), Finnish/Karelian (60), Greek (99), Greek/Roman (31), Hindu (202), Indigenous Australian (3), Islamic (83), Islamicate Folklore (45), Japanese (19), Biblical (1), Norse (26), Persian (13), Roman (82), Sufi (85)

962 appearances
royal_legitimacy

Royal Legitimacy

Buddhist (29), Celtic Irish (63), Celtic Welsh (43), Comparative (88), Confucian (2), Daoist (12), Finnish/Karelian (1), Greek (114), Greek/Roman (35), Hindu (310), Indigenous Australian (1), Islamic (57), Islamicate Folklore (33), Japanese (8), Biblical (1), Norse (29), Persian (12), Roman (76), Sufi (23)

937 appearances
shapeshifter

Shapeshifter

Ainu (15), Buddhist (9), Celtic Irish (76), Celtic Welsh (17), Comparative (14), Daoist (5), Egyptian (1), Finnish/Karelian (20), Greek (81), Greek/Roman (34), Hindu (75), Indigenous Australian (15), Islamic (17), Islamicate Folklore (20), Japanese (9), Norse (41), Roman (345), Sufi (5)

799 appearances
seasonal_cycle

Seasonal Cycle

Buddhist (3), Celtic Irish (9), Celtic Welsh (5), Comparative (490), Daoist (7), Finnish/Karelian (7), Greek (32), Greek/Roman (24), Hindu (18), Indigenous Australian (4), Islamic (24), Japanese (3), Norse (52), Persian (4), Roman (18), Sufi (65)

765 appearances
death_rebirth

Death And Rebirth

Ainu (4), Buddhist (41), Celtic Irish (25), Celtic Welsh (15), Comparative (135), Daoist (13), Egyptian (2), Finnish/Karelian (17), Greek (40), Greek/Roman (19), Hindu (38), Indigenous Australian (5), Islamic (70), Islamicate Folklore (7), Japanese (2), Biblical (1), Maya/Kiche (1), Mesopotamian (1), Norse (35), Persian (2), Roman (86), Sufi (173)

732 appearances
return

Return

Ainu (1), Buddhist (15), Celtic Irish (59), Celtic Welsh (23), Comparative (11), Daoist (4), Finnish/Karelian (38), Greek (205), Greek/Roman (31), Hindu (84), Indigenous Australian (1), Islamic (48), Islamicate Folklore (35), Japanese (16), Norse (19), Persian (7), Roman (32), Sufi (55)

684 appearances
initiation

Initiation

Buddhist (30), Celtic Irish (47), Celtic Welsh (49), Comparative (63), Confucian (1), Daoist (12), Egyptian (1), Finnish/Karelian (19), Greek (102), Greek/Roman (27), Hindu (64), Indigenous Australian (9), Islamic (39), Islamicate Folklore (10), Japanese (10), Biblical (1), Maya/Kiche (1), Mesopotamian (1), Norse (13), Persian (3), Roman (19), Sufi (146)

667 appearances
resurrection

Resurrection

Ainu (1), Celtic Irish (13), Celtic Welsh (7), Comparative (53), Daoist (1), Egyptian (2), Finnish/Karelian (8), Greek (10), Greek/Roman (5), Hindu (12), Indigenous Australian (5), Islamic (345), Islamicate Folklore (2), Japanese (1), Norse (10), Persian (1), Roman (17), Sufi (63)

556 appearances
divine_beloved

Divine Beloved

Ainu (5), Celtic Irish (43), Celtic Welsh (4), Comparative (2), Finnish/Karelian (4), Greek (67), Greek/Roman (26), Hindu (18), Islamic (9), Japanese (8), Norse (19), Persian (4), Roman (77), Sufi (256)

542 appearances
divine_parent_child

Divine Parent And Holy Child

Ainu (1), Celtic Irish (26), Comparative (6), Daoist (1), Finnish/Karelian (10), Greek (153), Greek/Roman (62), Hindu (54), Islamic (16), Japanese (5), Norse (27), Persian (1), Roman (119), Sufi (4)

485 appearances
ascent

Ascent

Ainu (4), Buddhist (17), Celtic Irish (3), Celtic Welsh (1), Comparative (6), Daoist (16), Egyptian (1), Finnish/Karelian (7), Greek (95), Greek/Roman (15), Hindu (58), Indigenous Australian (5), Islamic (66), Islamicate Folklore (16), Japanese (7), Biblical (3), Norse (8), Persian (1), Roman (54), Sufi (95)

478 appearances
duality

Duality

Ainu (2), Buddhist (1), Celtic Irish (7), Celtic Welsh (4), Comparative (4), Daoist (46), Finnish/Karelian (4), Greek (161), Greek/Roman (13), Hindu (5), Islamic (69), Japanese (3), Mesopotamian (2), Norse (14), Persian (3), Roman (8), Sufi (102)

448 appearances
afterlife_journey_map

Afterlife Journey Map

Ainu (4), Buddhist (2), Celtic Irish (26), Comparative (5), Finnish/Karelian (25), Greek (73), Greek/Roman (12), Hindu (40), Islamic (111), Norse (34), Persian (1), Roman (51), Sufi (53)

437 appearances
trickster_boundary

Trickster At The Boundary

Ainu (14), Buddhist (38), Celtic Irish (40), Celtic Welsh (11), Comparative (2), Finnish/Karelian (4), Greek (101), Greek/Roman (13), Hindu (28), Indigenous Australian (13), Islamic (26), Islamicate Folklore (30), Japanese (18), Maya/Kiche (1), Norse (31), Persian (1), Roman (34), Sufi (16)

421 appearances
stolen_beloved

Stolen Or Lost Beloved

Ainu (4), Celtic Irish (53), Celtic Welsh (8), Comparative (5), Finnish/Karelian (8), Greek (36), Greek/Roman (22), Hindu (143), Indigenous Australian (3), Islamicate Folklore (16), Japanese (1), Norse (15), Roman (56), Sufi (1)

371 appearances
annihilation_union

Annihilation And Union

Buddhist (3), Celtic Irish (4), Comparative (1), Daoist (37), Greek (9), Hindu (3), Islamic (2), Norse (1), Persian (1), Roman (12), Sufi (285)

358 appearances
serpent

Serpent

Ainu (2), Buddhist (7), Celtic Irish (8), Celtic Welsh (8), Comparative (17), Daoist (1), Finnish/Karelian (25), Greek (37), Greek/Roman (30), Hindu (49), Indigenous Australian (3), Islamic (23), Islamicate Folklore (3), Japanese (4), Biblical (2), Norse (28), Persian (2), Roman (80), Sufi (12)

341 appearances
covenant

Covenant

Buddhist (1), Celtic Irish (18), Celtic Welsh (5), Comparative (2), Daoist (2), Finnish/Karelian (7), Greek (26), Greek/Roman (1), Hindu (24), Islamic (192), Biblical (6), Norse (11), Persian (1), Roman (20), Sufi (11)

327 appearances
sacred_birth

Sacred Birth

Ainu (3), Buddhist (16), Celtic Irish (5), Celtic Welsh (3), Comparative (18), Finnish/Karelian (18), Greek (54), Greek/Roman (14), Hindu (68), Islamic (44), Islamicate Folklore (1), Japanese (3), Norse (11), Persian (1), Roman (43), Sufi (7)

309 appearances
sacred_marriage

Sacred Marriage

Ainu (5), Celtic Irish (20), Celtic Welsh (9), Comparative (21), Finnish/Karelian (22), Greek (46), Greek/Roman (20), Hindu (44), Islamic (5), Islamicate Folklore (3), Japanese (4), Norse (26), Roman (30), Sufi (13)

268 appearances
culture_hero

Culture Hero

Ainu (5), Celtic Irish (37), Celtic Welsh (5), Comparative (2), Daoist (3), Finnish/Karelian (41), Greek (30), Greek/Roman (35), Hindu (21), Indigenous Australian (6), Islamic (11), Islamicate Folklore (1), Japanese (12), Mesopotamian (1), Norse (14), Persian (1), Roman (41)

266 appearances
miraculous_child

Miraculous Child

Ainu (4), Buddhist (8), Celtic Irish (14), Celtic Welsh (14), Comparative (2), Finnish/Karelian (17), Greek (19), Greek/Roman (14), Hindu (25), Indigenous Australian (1), Islamic (49), Islamicate Folklore (2), Japanese (10), Norse (11), Persian (3), Roman (28), Sufi (7)

228 appearances
sacred_tree_axis

Sacred Tree Or Axis Mundi

Ainu (1), Buddhist (20), Celtic Irish (6), Celtic Welsh (5), Comparative (64), Finnish/Karelian (9), Greek (8), Greek/Roman (6), Hindu (10), Indigenous Australian (1), Islamic (12), Islamicate Folklore (1), Japanese (3), Biblical (3), Norse (20), Persian (1), Roman (12), Sufi (7)

189 appearances
chaos

Chaos

Ainu (1), Celtic Irish (10), Celtic Welsh (5), Comparative (1), Daoist (5), Finnish/Karelian (11), Greek (28), Greek/Roman (5), Hindu (32), Islamic (32), Islamicate Folklore (1), Japanese (3), Biblical (1), Maya/Kiche (1), Norse (23), Persian (4), Roman (17), Sufi (4)

184 appearances
sacred_theft

Sacred Theft

Ainu (3), Buddhist (3), Celtic Irish (17), Celtic Welsh (6), Comparative (2), Daoist (2), Finnish/Karelian (12), Greek (29), Greek/Roman (11), Hindu (13), Indigenous Australian (4), Islamic (5), Islamicate Folklore (4), Norse (21), Roman (22), Sufi (6)

160 appearances
forbidden_knowledge

Forbidden Knowledge

Ainu (2), Buddhist (1), Celtic Irish (3), Celtic Welsh (5), Comparative (2), Daoist (2), Finnish/Karelian (2), Greek (16), Greek/Roman (5), Hindu (3), Indigenous Australian (5), Islamic (36), Islamicate Folklore (13), Japanese (5), Norse (4), Roman (14), Sufi (37)

155 appearances
hero_descent

Descent Into The Underworld

Ainu (3), Buddhist (2), Celtic Irish (10), Celtic Welsh (2), Comparative (8), Daoist (1), Egyptian (1), Finnish/Karelian (15), Greek (21), Greek/Roman (9), Hindu (13), Indigenous Australian (1), Islamic (7), Islamicate Folklore (11), Japanese (6), Biblical (1), Maya/Kiche (1), Norse (11), Roman (31)

154 appearances
sibling_pair

Sibling Pair

Ainu (3), Buddhist (1), Celtic Irish (4), Celtic Welsh (2), Comparative (2), Daoist (1), Finnish/Karelian (3), Greek (23), Greek/Roman (9), Hindu (58), Indigenous Australian (2), Islamic (9), Islamicate Folklore (2), Japanese (3), Maya/Kiche (1), Norse (6), Roman (18)

147 appearances
world_center

World Center

Buddhist (4), Celtic Irish (3), Celtic Welsh (2), Comparative (6), Daoist (2), Finnish/Karelian (5), Greek (20), Greek/Roman (6), Hindu (15), Indigenous Australian (1), Islamic (31), Biblical (3), Norse (15), Roman (8), Sufi (14)

135 appearances
water

Perilous Sea Passage Through Monstrous Waters

Buddhist (5), Celtic Irish (7), Celtic Welsh (2), Comparative (1), Finnish/Karelian (9), Greek (13), Greek/Roman (6), Hindu (10), Islamic (11), Islamicate Folklore (2), Japanese (2), Norse (4), Roman (23), Sufi (4)

99 appearances
ark_vessel

Ark Or Preserving Vessel

Ainu (1), Celtic Irish (3), Celtic Welsh (4), Comparative (7), Finnish/Karelian (4), Greek (4), Greek/Roman (3), Hindu (3), Islamic (40), Islamicate Folklore (4), Japanese (1), Biblical (1), Norse (3), Roman (10), Sufi (5)

93 appearances
flood_and_renewal

Flood And Renewal

Buddhist (1), Celtic Irish (1), Daoist (1), Greek (6), Greek/Roman (6), Hindu (6), Indigenous Australian (1), Islamic (45), Biblical (1), Maya/Kiche (1), Norse (5), Roman (15), Sufi (4)

93 appearances
mother_goddess

Mother Goddess

Celtic Irish (1), Comparative (12), Daoist (1), Finnish/Karelian (11), Greek (19), Greek/Roman (15), Hindu (1), Japanese (1), Norse (6), Roman (13)

80 appearances
world_destroying_fire

World Destroying Fire

Buddhist (1), Celtic Irish (3), Celtic Welsh (1), Daoist (1), Finnish/Karelian (2), Greek (10), Greek/Roman (1), Hindu (21), Islamic (8), Japanese (2), Norse (6), Roman (18), Sufi (4)

78 appearances
dying_and_returning

Death And Return

Celtic Irish (1), Comparative (60), Greek (2), Norse (5), Roman (1), Sufi (1)

70 appearances
cosmic_mountain

Cosmic Mountain

Buddhist (2), Daoist (3), Finnish/Karelian (2), Greek (6), Greek/Roman (5), Hindu (24), Islamic (9), Islamicate Folklore (2), Japanese (2), Biblical (1), Norse (1), Persian (1), Roman (8), Sufi (1)

67 appearances
fire

Funeral Fire Seen From The Departing Ship

Buddhist (3), Celtic Irish (4), Comparative (4), Finnish/Karelian (6), Greek (7), Greek/Roman (1), Hindu (7), Islamic (10), Islamicate Folklore (2), Norse (6), Roman (10), Sufi (5)

65 appearances
sacred_twins

Sacred Twins

Celtic Irish (1), Comparative (1), Greek (9), Greek/Roman (5), Hindu (12), Islamic (1), Maya/Kiche (1), Mesopotamian (1), Norse (2), Roman (9)

42 appearances
mountain

Underworld Descent Through Mountain Cave

Ainu (2), Buddhist (1), Daoist (2), Finnish/Karelian (1), Greek (5), Greek/Roman (2), Hindu (9), Islamic (8), Islamicate Folklore (2), Norse (2), Roman (3), Sufi (1)

38 appearances
tree

Sacred Vessels Preserved From Destructive Fire

Ainu (2), Buddhist (5), Celtic Irish (1), Comparative (3), Daoist (1), Finnish/Karelian (1), Greek (3), Greek/Roman (2), Hindu (5), Islamic (3), Norse (3), Roman (6), Sufi (2)

37 appearances
survivor_pair

Survivor Pair

Ainu (1), Celtic Welsh (1), Finnish/Karelian (1), Greek (2), Greek/Roman (2), Islamic (5), Biblical (1), Norse (4), Roman (6)

23 appearances
labyrinth_initiation

Labyrinth Initiation

Celtic Welsh (1), Greek (1), Greek/Roman (2), Hindu (7), Islamicate Folklore (1), Norse (2), Roman (7)

21 appearances
cosmic_egg

Cosmic Egg

Finnish/Karelian (2), Sufi (2)

4 appearances
cattle_raid

Cattle Raid

Celtic Irish (3)

3 appearances
idol

Idol

Biblical (1)

1 appearances
jubilee

Jubilee

Biblical (1)

1 appearances
rain_magic

Rain Magic

Indigenous Australian (1)

1 appearances
scapegoat

Scapegoat

Biblical (1)

1 appearances
theophany

Theophany

Biblical (1)

1 appearances
truth_act

Truth Act

Buddhist (1)

1 appearances
world_egg

World Egg

Finnish/Karelian (1)

1 appearances