Storytelling: An Encyclopedia of Mythology and Folklore

753 Pages·2011·24.78 MB·English

by  Josepha Sherman

S
torytelling
(c) 2011 M.E. Sharpe, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
S
torytelling
(cid:11) (cid:11)
An Encyclopedia of Mythology and Folklore
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Edited by Josepha Sherman
(cid:1)
(c) 2011 M.E. Sharpe, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SHARPE REFERENCE
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Storytelling: an encyclopedia of mythology and folklore/Josepha Sherman, editor.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-7656-8047-1 (hardcover: alk. paper)
1. Folklore—Encyclopedias. 2. Mythology—Encyclopedias. 3. Storytelling—Encyclopedias.
I. Sherman, Josepha.

GR35.S76 2008
398.203—dc22 2008007915
Cover image: Werner Forman/Art Resource, New York.
Printed and bound in the United States of America
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences
Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials,
ANSI Z 39.48.1984.
(c) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Publisher: Myron E. Sharpe
Vice President and Editorial Director: Patricia Kolb
Vice President and Production Director: Carmen Chetti
Executive Editor and Manager of Reference: Todd Hallman
Project Manager: Laura Brengelman
Program Coordinator: Cathleen Prisco
Text Design: Carmen Chetti and Jesse Sanchez
Cover Design: Jesse Sanchez
(c) 2011 M.E. Sharpe, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Contents
Volume 1
Amun/Amen/Amon/
Contributors...................................................xiii Amun-Re (Egyptian)..................................20
Preface.............................................................xv An/Anu (Sumerian)........................................20
Introduction...................................................xvii Anansasem (West African).............................21
Animal Bride or Bridegroom.........................21
A-Z Animal Helper and Grateful Animal............22
Aarne, Antti........................................................1 Antar (Middle Eastern)..................................22
Abassi/Abasi and Atai (West African)............2 Antero Vipunen (Finnish)..............................23
Abatwa (South African)....................................2 Antichrist (Christian)......................................24
Aboriginal Mythology (Australian).................3 Antigone (Greek)............................................24
Abracadabra......................................................5 Anu (Hittite)....................................................25
Abzu/Apsu (Sumerian and Anubis/Anpu (Egyptian)................................26
Babylonian)...................................................5 Anzu (Sumerian and Babylonian).................27
Achilles (Greek)................................................6 Aphrodite (Greek)..........................................28
Adapa (Babylonian)..........................................7 Apollo (Greek)................................................28
Adon/Adonis (Phoenician)..............................8 Apple Trees.....................................................30
Adroa and Adro (East African)........................9 Arabic Storytelling.........................................32
Adroanzi (East African)....................................9 Arachne (Greek).............................................32
Aeneid(Roman)..................................................9 Arawn (Welsh)................................................33
Aesop and Aesop’s Fables(Greek)...................11 Archetype........................................................33
Aetheopis/Aithiopis(Greek)...............................12 Argonautica(Greek).........................................34
African Bushmen Mythology.........................13 Arianrhod (Welsh)..........................................36
Ahti/Ahto (Finnish).........................................13 Armageddon ( Judeo-Christian)....................36
Aigamuxa (South African).............................14 Asbjørnsen, Peter Christen............................37
Aino (Finnish)..................................................14 Asgard (Norse)................................................38
Aiomum Kondi (South American)................14 Ash Trees (Western European)......................39
Ajok (North African).......................................15 Athena/Athene (Greek)..................................39
Alalu/Alalus (Hittite)......................................15 Atlas (Greek)...................................................40
Amadis of Gaul(Spanish or Portuguese)........15 Atum (Egyptian)..............................................41
Amazons (Greek)............................................16 Aucassin and Nicolette (Medieval
Amled/Amleth (Danish).................................18 European)....................................................41
Amphisbaena (Greek)....................................18 Avalon (Celtic)................................................43
Amulets............................................................19 Aztec Mythology............................................44
v
(c) 2011 M.E. Sharpe, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
vi Contents
Baba Yaga (Russian).......................................47 Centaurs (Greek)............................................86
Baby Cast Adrift.............................................48 Cerberus (Greek)............................................87
Baku ( Japanese).............................................49 Champ/Champy (North American).............88
Balder (Norse).................................................49 Chapbooks......................................................88
Balinese Mythology........................................50 Charlemagne and His Peers..........................89
Ballads..............................................................51 Charon (Greek)...............................................90
Ballads, Homiletic..........................................53 Chaucer, Geoffrey..........................................91
Bannik (Slavic)................................................54 Chickens..........................................................92
Banshee (Irish)................................................54 Child, Francis James.......................................93
Basile, Giambattista........................................55 Chiron (Greek)................................................93
Basilisk (European).........................................55 Chupacabras (Latin American).....................94
Basque Folklore and Mythology...................56 Cockatrice (European)...................................95
Bastet/Bast (Egyptian)....................................57 Collective Unconscious..................................95
Bats...................................................................58 Comets.............................................................96
Battle of Kadesh (Egyptian)...........................59 Compassion.....................................................97
Bees..................................................................60 Con Man or Woman/Con Artist...................97
Bellerophon (Greek).......................................61 Contendings of Horus and Seth,
Bendigeidfran/Bran (Welsh)..........................63 The(Egyptian).............................................98
Beowulf(Anglo-Saxon)...................................63 Counting-Out Rhymes.................................100
Berekhiah ben Natronai ha-Nakdan.............65 Creation Stories of Mesopotamia................100
Bestiary............................................................65 Culture Heroes..............................................103
Black Dogs (English)......................................66 Cumulative Rhymes and Tales....................104
Black Magic (Western European)..................67 Curses............................................................104
Black School (Scandinavian and
Scottish)....................................................68 Dahut/Ahes (French)....................................107
Bluebeard (Western European).....................69 Danish Traditional Tales...............................107
Boccaccio, Giovanni.......................................70 De Iside et Osiride(Roman)............................110
Bogatyr/Bogatyri (Russian)............................71 Deals with the Devil.....................................111
Boy Who Didn’t Know Fear..........................71 Death..............................................................113
Bremen Town Musicians (German)..............72 Decameron(Italian).........................................114
Bridges.............................................................73 Demeter and Persephone (Greek)...............114
Broadside Ballads............................................74 Digenis Acritas(Greek)...................................116
Brothers Grimm..............................................75 Dilmun (Sumerian and Babylonian)...........116
Brownies (British)............................................76 Djinn/Djinni/Jinn/Genie (Arabic)..............117
Brunhilde/Brynhild/Brunnehilde Dobrynya Nikitich (Russian).......................118
(Norse).........................................................77 Dogs...............................................................118
Bucephalus (Greek)........................................78 Domovoi/Domovois (Russian)....................121
Bull of Heaven (Sumerian and Dongmyeongseong/Chumong (Korean)....121
Babylonian).................................................78 Don’t Count Your Chickens Before
Bunyips (Australian Aboriginal)....................80 They Are Hatched...................................122
Bylina/Bylini (Russian)..................................80 Doomed Prince (Egyptian)..........................123
Doppelganger................................................124
Camp Stories...................................................81 Dragons.........................................................125
Campfire Storytelling.....................................82 Dragon-Slayer (European)...........................130
Canterbury Tales, The(English)........................82 Dumuzi (Sumerian)......................................130
Cat-and-Mouse Tales......................................83
Catoblepas (Roman).......................................84 Ears................................................................133
Cats..................................................................85 El Cid (Spanish)............................................135
(c) 2011 M.E. Sharpe, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Contents vii
Elf Shot/Elf Arrow (British).........................135 Gambling.......................................................182
Elm Trees.......................................................136 Gamelan (Indonesian)..................................183
Eloquent Peasant, Tale of the Gargoyles.......................................................183
(Egyptian)..................................................136 Garm (Norse)................................................185
Enki/Ea (Sumerian)......................................137 Garuda (Indian)............................................185
Enkidu (Sumerian)........................................138 Geb (Egyptian)..............................................186
Enlil (Sumerian)............................................139 German Storytelling.....................................186
Enmerkar (Sumerian)...................................140 Gesta Danorum(Danish)................................188
Ennead of Heliopolis (Egyptian).................142 Ghost Stories, College..................................189
Epics...............................................................142 Ghosts, Aviation............................................190
Epics, French.................................................143 Ghosts: A Sampling of Stories.....................191
Epics, German...............................................145 Ghosts and Hauntings..................................192
Epics, Greek..................................................146 Ghosts in Theaters........................................197
Epics, Roman................................................147 Giants.............................................................199
Epics, Spanish...............................................148 Gilgamesh (Sumerian and Babylonian)......201
Erra (Babylonian)..........................................149 Goblins (Western European).......................203
Estonian Storytelling....................................150 Golem ( Jewish)............................................204
Etana (Babylonian).......................................152 Grail/Holy Grail (Western European)........206
Ethiopian Mythology...................................153 Grateful Dead...............................................208
Ethiopian Storytelling..................................154 Gremlins (English)........................................208
Evil Eye..........................................................154 Griots/Griottes/Jelis (West African)............209
Gudrun/Kudrun(German).............................210
Fables.............................................................156 Index................................................................I-1
Fabliau/Fabliaux...........................................156
Volume 2
Fairy Godmothers.........................................157
Fairy Midwife and Demon Midwife...........157 Habaek and Haemosu (Korean)..................212
Faithful Companion.....................................158 Hags................................................................213
Faithless Wife................................................159 Hand of Glory (European)...........................213
Familiar/Familiar Spirit...............................159 Hands.............................................................214
Fantasy...........................................................160 Hannahanna/Hannahannas
Fates................................................................161 (Hittite).......................................................215
Faust, Dr. Johann...........................................161 Hansel and Gretel (Western
Fenrir (Norse)................................................163 European)..................................................215
Ferdowsi/Firdawsi/Firdusi/Firdousi...........163 Harpies (Greek).............................................216
Filipino Mythology.......................................164 Hathor (Egyptian).........................................217
Fingernails.....................................................166 Havelock the Dane (English).......................217
Fink, Mike.....................................................167 Heart in the Egg............................................218
Firebird (Russian)..........................................167 Hebat/Hepit/Hepatu (Hittite).....................219
Fish and Fishing Folklore.............................167 Hector (Greek)..............................................219
Flood, The (Mesopotamia)..........................168 Heimdall/Heimdallr (Norse).......................219
Flying Dutchman..............................................170 Hel (Norse)....................................................220
Fools...............................................................172 Heqat/Hekat/Heket (Egyptian)..................221
Frame Stories.................................................175 Hera (Greek).................................................221
Freischutz (German)......................................176 Hermes (Greek)............................................222
Frey and Freya (Norse).................................176 Hervarar Saga(Swedish)................................222
Frigga/Frigg (Norse)......................................178 Hi’iaka (Hawaiian).......................................223
Frogs and Toads.............................................178 Hocus-Pocus..................................................224
Fur-Bearing Trout (North American)..........180 Hodag (North American).............................224
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viii Contents
Homer (Greek).............................................225 King Arthur (British).....................................272
Hook, The.....................................................226 King of the Cats/King of the Cats is
Horror............................................................227 Dead (Western European)........................274
Horseshoes....................................................228 King Solomon (Biblical)...............................275
Horus (Egyptian)..........................................228 Kludde (Flemish)...........................................276
Hurston, Zora Neale.....................................229 Kullervo (Finnish).........................................276
Hyenas...........................................................230 Kumarbi/Kumaris (Hittite)..........................277
Kypria(Greek)................................................277
Iliad(Greek)..................................................231
Iliou Persis(Greek).........................................232 La Fontaine, Jean de.....................................279
Illuyankas (Hittite)........................................233 Labyrinths......................................................279
Ilmarinen (Finnish).......................................233 Lake Monsters..............................................280
Ilmatar (Finnish)...........................................234 Lang, Andrew...............................................281
Ilya Murometz/Ilya of Murom Lange Wapper (Flemish)..............................281
(Russian)....................................................234 Lares and Penates (Roman).........................282
Inanna/Ishtar (Sumerian and Lemminkainen (Finnish).............................283
Akkadian)..................................................235 Leprechauns (Irish)......................................284
Inaras (Hittite)...............................................237 Leshy/Leshiye (Slavic).................................284
Inca Mythology.............................................237 Liderc (Hungarian).......................................285
Indian Storytelling........................................239 Little Iliad(Greek).........................................286
Insects............................................................242 Local Legends...............................................286
Internet Lore/Netlore..................................244 Lorelei (German)..........................................288
Iroquois Storytelling.....................................245 Louhi (Finnish).............................................288
Isis (Egyptian)................................................247 Lugalbanda (Sumerian)................................289
Ivan/Ivan Tsarevich (Russian).....................248 Lullabies........................................................290
Lusiads, The(Portuguese)..............................291
Jackalope (North American)........................250 Lutin (French)...............................................292
Japanese Storytelling....................................251 Lyonesse (British).........................................293
Jersey Devil (American)...............................254
Joe Magarac (American)..............................255 Maat (Egyptian)............................................294
John Henry (American)...............................255 MacDonald, George.....................................295
Johnny Appleseed (American)....................256 Magi (Persian)...............................................295
Jongleurs (French).........................................257 Magic Incantations and Spells....................296
Joukahainen (Finnish)..................................258 Magician and His Pupil/Magician’s
Journey to the West/Monkey(Chinese)............258 Apprentice................................................297
Jump Tales.....................................................259 Mahabharata(Indian)....................................297
Jung, Carl Gustav.........................................260 Malory, Sir Thomas.....................................299
Juniper Tree, The (German)........................261 Manticore (Persian)......................................300
Marie de France............................................300
Kalevala(Finnish)..........................................263 Maui (Polynesian).........................................301
Kamishibai ( Japanese).................................264 Melusine/Melusina (European)..................302
Kelly, Ned.....................................................264 Menehune (Hawaiian).................................303
Kenyan Storytelling......................................265 Mermaids......................................................304
Khnum (Egyptian)........................................266 Meskhenet (Egyptian)..................................308
Khoikhoi/Hottentot Mythology..................266 Metamorphoses(Greek and Roman).............309
Kievan Cycle (Russian)................................267 Metaphors.....................................................309
Kikimora (Slavic)..........................................270 Mice................................................................310
Kind and Unkind Girls.................................271 Minnesang/Minnesingers (German)...........310
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Contents ix
Minotaur (Greek)..........................................311 Papyrus Westcar/Papyrus Berlin 3033
Minstrels........................................................312 (Egyptian)..................................................357
Mistletoe........................................................313 Pegasus (Greek)............................................358
Moon’s Reflection.........................................314 Pele/Madam Pele (Hawaiian).....................359
Morgan le Fay...............................................314 Penelope (Greek)..........................................361
Mother Goddess/Earth Mother Peri/Pari (Persian).........................................361
(European).................................................315 Perrault, Charles...........................................362
Mother Goose (European)...........................316 Phantom Bus (English).................................363
Mothman (North American)........................317 Phantom Ships/Ghost Ships........................363
Motif Index....................................................317 Phoenix (Egyptian and Greek)....................364
Motifs.............................................................319 Pixies (English).............................................365
Mystery Lights...............................................319 Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl(Aztec)..............365
Mystery Stories.............................................320 Popol Vuh(Mayan)........................................366
Mythography................................................320 Priam, King (Greek).....................................367
Mythology.....................................................322 Princess in the Tower....................................367
Prometheus (Greek).....................................368
Nagas (Hindu)...............................................326 Proverbs........................................................369
Nanna-Suen/Sin (Sumerian)........................327 Ptah (Egyptian).............................................369
Neith/Neit/Nit/Net (Egyptian)....................327 Puppetry and Storytelling............................370
Nephthys/Nebthet (Egyptian).....................328 Pushkin, Aleksandr Sergeyevich.................372
Nergal (Sumerian and Babylonian)............328 Puss in Boots (European).............................373
Nightmares....................................................329
Ninhursanga (Sumerian)..............................330 Quest for the Missing Husband...................376
Ninurta/Ningirsu (Sumerian and Quests.............................................................377
Babylonian)...............................................331
No-Bigger-than-a-Finger (Russian)..............332 Railroad Folklore (American)......................378
Nonsense Rhymes........................................333 Rakshasas (Hindu)........................................380
Noodle Tales/Simpleton Tales....................334 Ramakian(Thai)............................................380
Norse Mythology..........................................335 Ravens and Crows........................................381
Nun (Egyptian)..............................................337 Re/Ra/Pre/Re-Harakhety (Egyptian)........383
Nursery Rhymes (European).......................337 Reincarnation...............................................384
Nut (Egyptian)..............................................338 Reynard the Fox...........................................385
Nymphs (Greek)...........................................339 Rhiannon (Welsh).........................................386
Ring Cycle, The............................................387
Oberon (European)......................................341 Rivers, Greek Mythological........................392
Odin/Odhinn (Norse)..................................341 Rocs/Rucs/Rukhs/Rukhkhs (Arabic)........393
Odysseus (Greek).........................................342 Rolandslied(German)....................................393
Odyssey(Greek)..............................................344 Role-Playing Games.....................................394
Oedipus (Greek)...........................................345 Romance.......................................................395
Operas and Their Stories.............................347 Romance of Antar, The(Arabian)...................395
Oral History..................................................350 Rusalka/Rusalki (Slavic)..............................396
Orestes and Electra (Greek)........................351 Rustam (Persian)...........................................397
Osiris (Egyptian)...........................................351
Ovid...............................................................353 Sadko (Russian)............................................398
Owl Lore.......................................................353 Saga of the Volsungs(Norse)...........................399
Sampo (Finnish)............................................399
Palestinian Storytelling................................356 Sandman........................................................400
Panchatantra(Indian)....................................356 Satire..............................................................401
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x Contents
Saxo Grammaticus.......................................402 Talismans.......................................................444
Scapegoats.....................................................402 Tall Tales........................................................445
Scheherazade (Arabic).................................403 Talmudic Storytelling ( Jewish)...................445
Science Fiction..............................................403 Tasmisus (Hittite)..........................................448
Seanachai (Irish)...........................................404 Tefnut (Egyptian)..........................................448
Seelie Court and Unseelie Court Telegonia(Greek)............................................449
(Scottish)....................................................405 Telepinu/Telepinus (Hittite).........................449
Seers (Greek).................................................405 Teshub (Hittite).............................................450
Sekhmet (Egyptian)......................................407 Theseus (Greek)............................................450
Seth/Set/Sutekh (Egyptian).........................408 Thompson, Stith...........................................452
Setne Khamwaset Cycle (Egyptian)............408 Thor (Norse)..................................................452
Shaggy Dog Stories.......................................410 Thoth/Djehuty (Egyptian)...........................454
Shape-Shifters................................................411 Tiamat (Sumerian and
Shipwrecked Sailor, The Story of the Babylonian)...............................................454
(Egyptian)..................................................412 Tibetan Storytelling......................................456
Shu (Egyptian)...............................................413 Tolkien, J.R.R...............................................456
Simurgh (Persian)..........................................414 Tom Thumb (English)..................................458
Sinuhe, The Story of(Egyptian)......................415 Tomte/Tomten/Tomtar (Swedish)...............459
Sirens (Greek)................................................416 Tongue Twisters............................................460
Sius (Hittite)...................................................417 Tree Spirits.....................................................461
Skald (Norse).................................................418 Tricksters.......................................................462
Skulls..............................................................418 Tristan and Isolde (Celtic)............................465
Slavic Mythology..........................................419 Trojan War (Greek)......................................465
Sleepers, Enchanted.....................................421 Troubadours (French)...................................467
Sleepers, Heroic (Western European)........422 Truth and Falsehood, The Tale of
Sleipnir (Norse).............................................424 (Egyptian)..................................................468
Snakes............................................................424 Twin Brothers................................................469
Snegurochka/Snowmaiden (Russian).........426 Two Brothers, Tale of the(Egyptian)...............469
Song of Igor’s Campaign(Russian)..................427 Typhon (Greek).............................................471
Song of Roland(French).................................428
Sorcerer’s Apprentice..................................429 Ugly Baby......................................................473
Sphinx (Egyptian and Greek)......................429 Ullikummi (Hittite).......................................474
Squonk (American)......................................430 Unicorns........................................................474
Standing Stones (Western European)..........431 Upelluri/Ubelluris (Hittite)..........................479
Straparola, Giovanni Francesco..................433 Urban Legends..............................................479
String Figures................................................434 Utu/Shamash (Sumerian)............................480
Sundiata(Mali)..............................................436
Sunken Cities................................................438 Vainamoinen (Finnish).................................482
Superman (North American).......................438 Valhalla (Norse)............................................483
Sword, Broken (Norse).................................439 Valkyries (Norse)..........................................484
Sword in the Stone/Sword in the Tree.......440 Vampires.......................................................484
Swords...........................................................440 Vanishing Hitchhiker...................................488
Symphonic/Tone Poems..............................441 Vegetable Sheep/Lamb (European)...........488
Index................................................................I-1 Verse Stories..................................................489
Vietnamese Storytelling...............................489
Volume 3
Vodianoi (Slavic)...........................................490
Tail Tales........................................................443 Vol’ka (Slavic)................................................491
Tale Types......................................................443 Völva (Norse)................................................492
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