The Magic Wife: A First Ever look into this ancient myth

[@cynthiakalousis9904]

There is a beautiful old Irish story of a faerie bride, Etain, who is turned into a golden fly, swallowed by a warrior's wife because she fell into her wine goblet at a feast. Eventually, the warrior's wife gives birth to a beautiful girl (Etain). She grows up but realizes she is from another realm and must marry a man who she is betrothed to. Her faerie husband finally finds her, wins her back in a game of chess and as they fly away they are both turned into swans linked together by a gold chain. I don't know if you are familiar with this tale but I think it fits into these tales about brides that metamorphosize.

[@sirzorg5728]

A version of this myth was present in Tolkien's Silmarillion: Elwing, wife of Earendil (and mother of Elrond) turned into a sea bird to escape the sons of Feanor, and bring the Silmaril to her husband. Earendil then travelled to Valinor, before flying off into the sea of the night, and becoming a star.

[@2degucitas]

@@sirzorg5728 El.. il... Tolkien was kitbashing Levant god names with elfcore. Long before elfcore was a word.

[@manuellubian5709]

@@2degucitas Don't understand a word of what you said could you please explain in simpler terms thank you

[@manuellubian5709]

Yes it's kind of what I thought Craig and Ford was alluding to in his description of the magic wife's, background story. I've actually tried to tackle reading the Silmarillion. It appears to be a very intriguing tale but on paper in books it's very, very DENSE reading. It was the only time in my life where I actually felt like a dummy trying to read something because there were so many times I had to stop and start again to make sure I was understanding what Tolkien had just written.

[@eldraque4556]

brilliant

[@2degucitas]

@@manuellubian5709 Hablá Español?! The god of Israel was referred to as El or il , as compound names such as El Elyon (lord of lords). Tolkien took that name and incorporated it into his medieval inspired works (elfcore), fusing them together.

[@alexiskiri9693]

I often wonder how you can go so far back with no written records, but then I realize you are doing historical forensics to discover what can be found in clues left behind or hinted at. Very much enjoy your channel.❤

[@Crecganford]

Thank you so much. I do try and ensure viewers understand that there is serious academia behind this research, and it is not just guesswork.

[@manuellubian5709]

​@@CrecganfordKudos to you for sticking to your guns, and putting forth your best work to stick to the dictates of doing solid research 👐.

[@Shellorena]

Oral history of cultural storykeepers .

[@howardhavardramberg333]

And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife! And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"

[@vapormissile]

*this is not my beautiful wife!*

[@garyfrancis6193]

Wrong house.

[@ChuckHaney]

Easy. Letting the days go by, just like everyone else. Funny but, we can't help but let the days go by, can we? "Well, how did I get here?" can be answered with "by perfectly natural means."

[@toledogold]

First time watcher of your channel. It just popped up in my YT feed. Before we were married, and ongoingly, my husband gave me gifts decorated with cranes… starting with a pair of origami crane earrings that I still adore and love wearing. The crane theme runs strong in our relationship. Finding this video, and learning about this folktale and its motifs gives it more meaning. What a delight ! I am so glad to have found your channel. So informative and you’re very easy to listen to. Ty 🦢🪿🤍

[@bob7975]

The Nibelungenlied, and Swan Lake, the Little Mermaid, and countless fairy tales from around the world. It's still very much with us.

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

Constellations of the Zodiac, Cygnus, Columbia, Corvus, the Eagle, Vulture, all Constellations One Megalithic hour is 240 minutes, or 14,400 seconds (1/4) There are 6 Megalithic hours to the day, each made up of 6 minutes, each of which is 6 seconds long. If the Megalithic hour was divided into 60 minutes, each would be 1,440 of our seconds, times 100 is 144,000. One Megalithic second is 400 of our modern seconds, divided by 60 (to get minutes) is 6.6666666.... 360 ÷ 6.66 is 54 54 x 2 is 108 108 x 2 is 216 To effect this the hands on a clock count out 10 (units of 6) x 10 (units of 6) × 4 (=400 units of 6). Therefore the relationship of the Megalithic second to our current form is mathematically proportional to the ratio between the Sun and Moon. A Megalithic second is 6.66 minutes (400 seconds). A Megalithic Minute is 40 minutes, or 2,400 seconds. 6 x 6 x 6 x 400 = 86,400, the number of seconds in a day. This would mean a clock with 216 seconds would go around 40 times in a day (2160 x 400). This means 1 Megalithic second is 6.66 of our modern minutes, meaning their metric system is based on the Full Moon, of which 360 fit into to the night sky, and 720 will encircle the globe, divided by half gives us the 360 degree circle, and the basis for our present based sixty or seximal system of time. Which is why 1 degree of Arc on the Moon = 100 Megalithic Yards (2700ft). This means the Beast, the hidden hand of the Masonic fraternity, is the Moon; and Time. The white limestone covering of the Pyramids denotes the Pale Moon in Megalithic Ireland, like at New Grange, where Enoch describes a Crystal Palace illuminated by the Full Moon every 19 years. 6 x 6 x 6 is 216, there are 2160 years in an astrological age, and the Moon is 2160 miles in diameter, the solar metonic calendar using 60 6 day weeks produces 1 extra day every 216 years. There are also 216 Megalithic seconds in a day, and 216 letters in the name of the Hebrew God, Just as Solomon has 36 or 72 scrolls, and Muhammed speaks of 72 sects. Enoch also buries 36,525 scrolls, the number of days in a year, times 100. This shows that our current measure of time is based on the principle of 1/6, the basis of an Egyptian Royal Cubit, which effects the arc of a Pendulum like that in a Grandfather Clock, the Sun also does this in the sky over the seasons. But first, they built the first ring at Stonehenge, which is 100 metres (330 ft) wide, with an area of 2160 square feet, a Cube's interior angles also add up to... 2160! This produces a Calendar of 60 6 day weeks plus five. Every 4th year a 366th day makes exactly 61 weeks. This is the basis of the Olympics, to mark a Leap Year, starting with the first Full Moon of the Summer Solstice. This means every 216 years this calendar produces 1 extra day, so after 648 years 3 days must be removed. This is when the Phoenix arrived, and stepped onto the Alter of Ra or Holy Grail, completing the Metonic cycle and bringing the Calendar back into sync with the first New Moon of the Spring equinox. The Capstone of the Pyramid is even called the Benben Stone, the Egyptian Phoenix is called the Bennu. It likely relates to Deneb, in Ophiuchus, the 13th Starsign of the Zodiac. The base of the Pyramid is exactly 13 Acres, as is Teotihuacan, because they share the exact same base dimensions. Such a location would be ideal for calculating the speed of light using the transit of Venus. Incidentally the Great Pyramid's Latitudinal coordinates are the speed of light. 1440 ÷ 108 = 13.333333 11 and 3 are the most sacred Celtic numbers of royalty, and also happen to be the proportions of the Earth to the Moon, and the Great Pyramid. The starsigns also precess 1 degree every 72 years 72 x 3 is 216 2160 ÷ 648 is 3.3333333 The Aztec Calendar also begins with a double transit of Venus, in 3116BC, and ended with one on June 5 2012. The double headed Phoenix. This whole code can be encrypted into a single Pythagorean Triangle of Dimensions 666 by 630, by 216, this is the Key of Solomon, 33 is the inverse of 66. 100 is the "perfect number" because it represents Ten (6 unit) metrics times ten 6 unit metrics: a unit being 6.66 ie 60 x 60 (3600) the number of Arcdegree seconds in a second, or a one second unit on a clock the size of Earth This means seconds represent 10ths of the Moon; 216, or 6 x 6 x 6 (100 ÷ 6 ÷ 6 = 2.7): Euler's number, and the number of feet to a Megalithic Yard, 3/11 is .27 and the number of days in a sidereal month is also 27. 11/3 is 3.66, the number of days in a Canicular leap year, the character of Thoth, Cuchulainn, and Kukulkan, the Dog Star of the Dog days of Sirius, in Assyria, and the star by which the Sothic (Seth) Calendar is determined. Thoth was the Son of Seth, who is portrayed as a Serpent. 3 x 11 is 33, the # of years in a 'Great Solar Return'. As the Sun and Moon inhabit their respective houses of the Zodiac they animate the character within, playing out the dramas and battles we know as myths, for example the Moon traveling through each of the Zodiac houses each month, for a grand total of... 144 (12 x 12) This is why at every Megalithic site we find Theatres, like in "Nazereth" and Gobekli Tepe and Poverty Point, as well as in New Zealand. Metatron/Enoch/Echnaton/Arkenaten's Cube is 13 circles in a Star of David: 13 x 360 is 4680 4680 ÷ 216 is 21.666.. The circumference of the Earth in Nautical Miles is 21,600 This means the basis of the Nautical Mile is the Moon. Calculate the Circumference of the Earth in kms by multiplying the Diameter of the Moon by 18.6, the period of a Metonic Cycle in years to get 40,175.

[@MULATRAVTRUTHHUNTER]

What does it all mean brother , beside ls that the sacred science and numbers were definitely being used. The mysteries are and hidden knowledge is with us and in us

[@Ivftinianvs]

Still very much with us? In the lyrics of a song only as old as I am: Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night And wouldn't you love to love her? Takes to the sky like a bird in flight And who will be her lover? All your life you've never seen Woman taken by the wind Would you stay if she promised you heaven? Will you ever win? She is like a cat in the dark And then she is to darkness She rules her life like a fine skylark And when the sky is starless All your life you've never seen Woman taken by the wind Would you stay if she promised you heaven? Will you ever win? Will you ever win? (Rhiannon) (Rhiannon) (Rhiannon) (Rhiannon) She rings like a bell through the night And wouldn't you love to love her? She rules her life like a bird in flight And who will be her lover? All your life you've never seen Woman taken by the wind Would you stay if she promised you heaven? Will you ever win? Will you ever win? (Rhiannon) (Rhiannon) (Rhiannon) Taken by taken by the sky (ah-ah) Taken by taken by the sky (ah-ah) Taken by taken by the sky (ah-ah) Dreams unwind Love's a state of mind Dreams unwind Love's a state of mind

[@SpaceMonkey15]

My favorite version of this is an Inuit one wherein a fox just shows up in a man's igloo and decides that she's his wife now. She cooks for him and everything. Only, one day he says something like, "Why does it smell weird in here?" Because, apparently foxes have scent glands like skunks. And she replies, "HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY NATURAL FOX MUSK," and promptly leaves.

[@slappy8941]

Yeah, foxes smell like cat piss and skunk spray.

[@zipperpillow]

You can get used to it. He probably just got tired of her cooking. Fox are largely scavengers in the North, but also vole hunters and egg thieves, so she probably wasn't that great in the kitchen, so when the caribou showed up, he probably said, "Beat it".

[@photinodecay]

sounds like a story that was based on real events

[@EmL-kg5gn]

The way she just turns up, the sudden departure at the first sign of not being fully appreciated (good for her). But also the humour in such a strong reaction to a reasonable question from a human perspective, especially when the marriage was her idea. It makes her disappearance feel as mysterious as her arrival. And the amazing magical wife having bad body odour? Something about it all is very funny 🤣🤣🤣

[@dammitanothername]

@@photinodecay they have stories that sound like fae are involved. I think I got this one right. A young toddler was with his parents and just toddling around as toddlers do. They were picking berries or something. The tundra is vas and relatively flat. There can be dips and valleys but fam saw nothing. So he toddled around a corner, dip or bend, and disappeared. They searched and searched. Family and friends came to help. No signs of struggle or predation- just gone. Eventually they had to admit he couldn't have survived on his own. But he did. He had wandered around a bend and come across some little people who were hunting or gathering. The man's wife was worried for the toddler and they took him with them to their home. He grew up there and grew big and strong. Much bigger than the little people and of course he wondered why he was different and where he had come from. One day they left their village and went out hunting. But he heard voices. He went to investigate and his parents then new, it was time to let him go and go back to his people. They slipped away back to their village never to be seen again. The young man reunited with family who were shocked to see him again. It wasn't that long ago. I suspect his great grand children or great great granchildren are alive. There's other multi witness accounts of cryptids (besides bigfoot) from people that are still alive today.

[@debrarobinson57]

I read 'The Animal Wife' [ by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, ] many years ago. Although fiction, set in an undefined prehistorc era, the story is based on these myths.

[@wendychavez5348]

It's sitting on the bookshelf across the room from me, about in line with my right knee.

[@jayabee]

Decembrists' 2006 album The Crane Wife (my favorite record of theirs) has 3 songs based on the story. It is a sad story as they tell it. But these stories also put me in the mind of the Elves and the Shoemaker and other non wife stories where a good person gets magical help until he "pulls back the veil" so to speak on the magic.

[@dougrobinson6683]

And Legion season 2, the cappuccino machine tells the crane wife story. It's a Japanese tale.

[@jamesdoyle2769]

This motif is all over Celtic mythology and folklore. Macha the horse goddess, who marries a human and gives birth to Cúchulainn's chariot horses is a familiar example, and so is Rhiannon in the Mabinogi. It's also the basis of stories about selkies coming ashore. "The Legend of Roan Inish" is based on this motif.

[@zipperpillow]

Any port in a storm.

[@arielleshort2072]

Í love that movie

[@jamesdoyle2769]

@@arielleshort2072 It’s very sweet, isn’t it? I love it too. There’s a theme in it of the grandfather telling the kids never to mention Jamie for fear of reviving the grandmother’s grief. Of course she isn’t made of glass but she is touched by his consideration.

[@cyan1616]

Kitsune! haha I had a little girl Shiba Inu named Kitsune. She thought she was just a very small person equal to all the humans.

[@robertdelrosario139]

If I ever get a wife, that would surely be magic ✨️

[@dragonsguardianofcrystalhearts]

Wishing you luck on finding a good woman for you. Treat her right when you get her please.

[@robertdelrosario139]

@@dragonsguardianofcrystalhearts thank you for the good wishes! And I shall, to the best of my ability

[@JonathanGhost42]

Same.

[@Al_theshoeman_Bundy]

Go to Thailand or the Philippines. You wont be able to escape without one getting hold of you. 😂

[@Fohnacide777]

grass is always greener....if you live in the West, never.....never, ever get married!

[@kariannecrysler640]

Such an exciting project to update our resources with the newest technologies & data. I love seeing responsible scholarship and appreciate the tutorial on how exactly you go about being accountable in your field of study. Thank you 🤘💗

[@Crowhag]

As a magic wife-to-be, thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed this!

[@Crecganford]

You're welcome!

[@stargatis]

Congratulations ❤

[@DneilB007]

Congrats!

[@Ldonally84]

There is a West African Yoruba myth of the goddess Oya in the form of a buffalo who was hunted by the god of hunting and war Ogun. He caught her and married her and kept her skin so she could not change back. They had children and they grew but one day she found her skin changed back and left them. The story is thousands of years old and protected as oral history by unesco. There are also *several* Yoruba stories as well about the origins of various plants animals and birds. Perhaps you should look into these.

[@arielleshort2072]

That's the same that I grew up with, but it was seilkies instead. Seal women. The pelt and all.

[@leekeithf23]

Great video, yet again. I'd love to know about the symbology of the myth though, please. Maybe a short or something? Absolutely fascinating. I'm merely an amateur and before you were around 'had to rely' on Robert Graves, whose work can be flawed at times. Yeah, so a continuation explaining the symbolism of this would be ace please

[@Crecganford]

Yes, that’s a good idea, I’ll see what I can do.

[@ladyroselie]

Thank you for doing folklore themes! Love it ❤️ Seems like these things get brushed aside all the time, but there's so much there to speak to the common people, the majority and not just the brave warriors and beautiful queens.

[@wendychavez5348]

Folklore is another stage between mythology and historical recounting. Crecganford has taught me this!

[@hernantorres3700]

Selki - Scottish and Irish sea animal equivalent, I think.

[@jameshead9119]

I thought story’s of Sulkies are common all across the British Isles In one form or other ( not to surprising as there’s nowhere that’s ore than seventy miles from the coast )

[@elizabethford7263]

I immediately thought of the modern mythology of JRR Tolkein and Goldberry, the wife of (the very magical) Tom Bombadil. Let's see what I can learn today!

[@alexiskiri9693]

"Fields of Gold" by Sting "So she took her love, for to gaze a while, upon the fields of barley, in his arms she fell, as her hair came down, upon the fields of gold" 🎶 The woman who falls from the sky motif.

[@gaufrid1956]

A favourite song of mine! "See the west full moon like a lover's song upon the fields of barley".

[@JariDawnchild]

@@alexiskiri9693 Reading your comment and the first reply made me realize how long it's been since I heard that song and how much I need to hear it again lol.

[@2degucitas]

​@@gaufrid1956Did Sting write the words or borrow from classic lit

[@gaufrid1956]

@@2degucitas Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) wrote the words and music for the song "Fields of Gold". It's included on his album "Ten Summoner's Tales", a play on words with his own name, and a reference to the famous "Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer, written in the 1400's, in which characters on a pilgrimage to Canterbury each told a tale. Among the people were a nun, a miller, a knight, and a summoner. A summoner was a person whose job it was to invite people to formal occasions. Sting lived in a manor house overlooking fields of barley at the time he wrote "Fields of Gold". He often saw the wind rippling over the golden fields. He commented about how sensual this was, which I guess is echoed in the lyrics. "Ten Summoner's Tales" has a number of very interesting songs, and each one tells a different story. The other song from the album that received airplay was "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You". If you get the chance, give it a listen. Apparently "Fields of Gold" was recorded in just one take, with no dubs. It's the simplicity of the song that makes it so memorable, and likely makes people think it must have been a folk song from an earlier time.

[@2degucitas]

@@gaufrid1956 Thanks for sharing! I was too broke with 4 kids when the album came out. I'll look for a used cd online. Been a Police and Sting fan from day one. He has always used literary references.

[@rafaeldiromano2085]

I love the stories and learning more of these ancient cultures, but I also really love your books in the background! Organised with beautiful books. Love it

[@Crecganford]

Thank you

[@EmL-kg5gn]

Thank you for this video it was super interesting! It’s nice to have more context about how myths have been studied in the past and some more details about how you approach them To me it seems obvious that if a man tries to keep a wife/woman around by taking her wings then she is wise to leave him forever as soon as she finds them

[@mikkel6938]

Love the work that you do, and cannot understate how helpful it is for my creative pursuits! If you take requests, I would love to learn more about ancient stories from sub-saharan Africa, south-east Asia and pacific islands, as well as South-America. Also anything you can teach about underground beings living in hills, barrows, and the underworld, mainly in european myth and folklore. Thank you so much for all that you do!

[@wendychavez5348]

I have a series of books by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, set in prehistoric times. One of them is titled Animal Wife, and in the prologue, Ms. Thomas discusses the myth of the animal wife--who usually has magical properties. Thanks for helping expand my understanding of this fascinating topic!

[@opup-m8b]

Great work as always. I recommend your channel all the time.

[@Crecganford]

Thank you.

[@Cole205]

All Wives are magical ❤😂😅

[@LucasHenrique-it2io]

nope

[@JonathanGhost42]

And like everything magical there are dark and light magics.

[@macdougdoug]

They can magically create new humans, and they know the difference between right and wrong (farting is wrong for example, my wife tells me)

[@heihan1675]

Some are more magical than others. 😂

[@alexeysaphonov232]

If I know my wife reads I would answer the same :)

[@dougrobinson6683]

And all the stars came crashing down as I laid eyes on what I'd found.

[@feralbluee]

In Japan, there is also the wife who is the Princess of moon. It has a couple of variations, one of which involves a bamboo forest and she is found as a little child in a bamboo stump, raised by a loving couple, and then when she grows up, she must return to the moon through the bamboo forest. There is a white glow and she is taken up - don’t remember how. The other is about a man who finds a beautiful young woman in the woods, she marries him, is a dutiful wife to his parents and him, has children, and then disappears cause he does something he wasn’t supposed to do, as usual :) Would these be connected with the Star myths? I have no idea how far back they go. I am not a student, but love, folklore, and fairy tales - similar tales occur across continents. Like Cinderella tales appear in northwestern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, and China, that I know of. Thanks much. I love your ‘lectures’. :) 🧚🏻🎅🏼🧞‍♂️🧜🏽‍♀️🧛🏼‍♂️🧌🧝🏼‍♀️🧝🏾‍♂️🌷🌱

[@JCRezonna-dl5qz]

I was recently reading in Jonathan Clements "A short history of Japan" about the emperor who inadvertently married a woman who was actually a malevolent fox spirit in disguise". 🦊

[@SpaceMonkey15]

Ah, so it IS about swan maidens. Hell yeah.

[@kariannecrysler640]

I’m curious if grave goods that have animal votive deposits has been compared to these myths and their disbursements? Is there any correlations between them & what could be gained anthropologically from the comparison?

[@Crecganford]

A great question, and that's something I will answer in the future.

[@kariannecrysler640]

@@Crecganford wooohooo Cheers to that 💯💗

[@demoncore5342]

I can think of Weylund the smith and many folktales from around me mirroring it. Always boils down to bite your tongue before insulting your fairy wife...

[@gaufrid1956]

You must always respect your fairy wife!

[@mrpocock]

Wise words to live by. Probably worth behaving as if she's fey, even if she probably is not!

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

It's Constellations. Pythagoras means 'Heart of the Serpent', he was born in Sidon, a fishing Port in Phoenicia. His mother received a prophecy from the Oracle at Delphi that he would become a great Leader & Teacher. Sidon means 'Kingdom of the Fish', & the Essenes, who wrote the Dead Sea scrolls, worshipped Pythagoras. The Sarcophagus of Eshmun III found in Sidon names him as the 'Widow's Scion', aka Hiram Abiff, Founder of Freemasonry, of which Tyre was the premier Capital (at least equal to Thebes). In 911BC Rameses II married the Queen of Sidon, home of Jezebel (Daughter or consort of Baal, ie "Queen") founding Neo Assyrian Babylon, an alliance between Egypt & Hiram, Father of Jezebel, & King of Assyria; forming the Phoenician colonies, & building the Temple of Melqart to commemorate their alliance. The Si in Sidon is the basis of the Latin Exe, or X, and is the basis of the Cross, or Chi Rho that Constantine painted on his shields. Also known as the Cross of Tyre, or Cross of Baal, being Ra-El, or Ba'El. Using Euler's number to map irrational numbers also produces a Templar Cross: ie where Eclipses are most likely to occur, called the 'Saros' Cycle. This cross can also be seen around the neck of Nimrod in Assyria, consistent with the Union Jack, & Solstice Calendar found in the Vatican's Shiva Lingam. Shiva is the Hebrew word for 7, & their culture also found its way to Korea & Japan (via the Philippines) ultimately becoming Shintoism. It was the Phoenicians who gave their name to the Pole Star, _Phoenice,_ which they used to Navigate the Oceans using the Zodiac, that's what the Antikythera mechanism was for, & with it they wrote the Byblos Baal; what we now call the Bible. The first form of the Bible was written in 325BC & called 'Vaticanus Graecus', or 'Son of the Sacred Serpent', ie Sirius, the basis of the Sothic Calendar, which uses a Hex Decimal & base 60 system found in all Megalithic sites around the world. In the second century AD the Astronomer Valentinus Vettori transcribed it into a Lunar chart of 13 houses, what we now call the Zodiac. Horoscope means 'Star Watcher', or 'Time Keeper' & the Phoenician word for Saturn, or El, was *_Israel_* or _El,_ (Fruit) of Isis (Ishtar) & (Amin) Ra. Equally El is the 'Father' of Ra the Sun, & Consort of Isis the Earth Mother, ergo _'El Ptah'_ is the *Moon* or Set, the Stranger. Phoenicia was the interim between Egypt & Greece, with artisans & culture exceeding that of the Greeks, whom literally adopted the Phoenician Alphabet, which we still use to this day; sounding out words phonetically. 'Phoenician' is alliterated in 'Venetian', & 'Vikings', being Kings of the Sea, [Sea Pharoahs] El is the primary God of the Phoenicians, representing the offspring of Egypt, & his consort Astarte or Ishtar represents the Assyrian half of the alliance. Such lineages & alliances can be traced (through the naming of gods) to Ireland & the Vikings, Indonesia, the Americas; even as far away as Australia, & New Zealand. It denotes Sirius as 'Son' of Orion & Pleiades, which sits at 33 degrees of the Zodiac. The basis of the Sothic (Seth) Decan Calendar of the Egyptians. The New Moon in this position marks Rosh Hashanah, the Egyptian, Celtic, Phoenician, & Assyrian New Year, with the first New Moon of September, so called as it's the 7th House of the Zodiac, when the Sun is in Ophuichus. 'Phoenix', 'Benben', or 'Bennu', is Egyptian for 'Heron', or Feathered 'Serpent'. It baptised itself in frankincense & myrrh at Baalbek, then alights atop the Great Pyramid, upon the Holy Grail, or Altar of Ra, every 630 years to take three days off the calendar; during the course of the first New Moon of Nisan, which means 'Prince'. The Capstone of Pyramids is even called the Benben or Bennu. The Phoenix is found in all religions, which are all Astrological Allegory for the Moon traversing the Constellations as a soul migrating from body to body. Thus is the basis of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth, or 'Hero's Journey' with the cycles & orbits of the planets serving as portents, omens, allies, etc. Thus Astrology was the Science of the Bronze Age & Reincarnation was the early teaching of the Gnostic Christian Church, & relates to the lineage of Kings: "The Pan is Dead! _Long live Pan!"_ The Bennu is the Egyptian Phoenix, to Phoenicians the Hoyle, Etruscans saw birds as sacred too, as did Celts, & Picts. Hebrew & Iberia have the same root; meaning _'over'_ ie _'overseas'_ or 'those [whom travel] over [the] sea'. A colony called Iberia also appeared on the Eastern shores of the Black Sea, with the same Dolmen & Megalithic culture originating in Ireland and Brittany circa 4500BC. _Phoenician_ means 'Scion of the Phoenix', the first Bible: Vaticanus Graecus; 'Scion of the Sacred Serpent' (Prince). Then there's the Essenes; :Sons of Light', the Tuatha De Danaan; Sons of Light, Anunnaki; Sons of Light, Arthur Pendragon; Arthur [Thor] 'Son of the Dragon'. Chertoff is Russian for "Son of the Devil" & Dracula also means 'Scion of the Dragon'. Masons call themselves the "Brotherhood of the Great White Serpent", & the Ziggurat of Anu denotes her as a great white Serpent too, while at New Grange & the Bru na Boinne, Ireland (4000BC) the white quartz ramparts also denote the Moon. The Moon itself travels either side of the Solar Elliptic by 5 degrees through specific constellations in a serpentine fashion that is always changing, but repeats every 19 years, the time it took to train a Druid or Magi, Magi meaning 'Teacher'. The Phoenix is also associated with this sacred number 19. "Pharoah" means 'Great House' or 'House of Light' & Cairo used to be called Babel. Pharaohs were called 'Commander in Chief' & wore a hooded crown representing feathers, as do Native American Chiefs, ie the Feathered Serpent. Aztecs also had 'Serpent Kings', (Canaan means Serpent Kings, & Sidon was a Son of Canaan & Great Grandson of Noah) who were called to lead with "cunning & guile" being the virtue of their "right to rule"; being seen as "just" in public, while shrewd in private. "As wise as Serpents, (while appearing as) _gentle_ as Doves." The old Egyptian flag of an Eagle holding a Snake is also reflected in the Modern Mexican flag, denoting the Constellations of Serpentis (13th sign of the Zodiac) and Aquila. The dimensions & 12 mathematical constants of the Great Pyramid are also found in New Grange, & Stonehenge, as well as in Watson Brake, (2500BC) & Teotihuacan, which correlates to the Phoenician/ Sumerian Seximal system, which is what our modern systems of time are based on, unlocking a fractal pattern reflected in the musical chord, electrical resistance, relative Planetary orbits, indeed; throughout _all_ creation. Officially no one knows who invented Astrology, the Zodiac, navigation by the stars, or time keeping. But whoever built the pyramids, & pioneered the 24hr clock in Egypt 5000 years ago already knew the exact dimensions of the Earth, & the speed of light. Because these can all be calculated using these Megalithic sites as a Surveyor use a Theodolite. Specifically at Teotihuacan; 230 degrees opposite Cairo, & with the exact same footprint. The ideal positions to determine the speed of light using the transit of Venus, allowing for accurate Longitude for Maritime navigation. Capt Cook did the same thing in 1774 when he 'discovered' Easter Island. The only culture that fits the bill was wiped out "not one stone upon the other" by the Romans in 146BC. Tyre, the capital of Phoenicia (Israel) sat just offshore from Ursu Salaam: City of the New Moon; City [or 'Rock'] of Peace; root of the name _'Jerusalem'_ & was also seized by Rome in 70AD after a 3.5 year siege. The gap between is 216 years (6x6x6). Greek Dionysians built the Temple of Solomon (now called the Temple of Melqart) representing the Solar Lunar (Solomonic) Metonic Calendar on which this system is based. They also carried mirrors, same as Magi, Druids, Greeks, & Egyptian scholars. These Mirrors are Astrological charts called 'Cycladic _Pans'_ & record the cycles of the planets. The first Temple of Melqart ( Phoenician Horus, Hercules, Pan, Thor) represents the 13th Constellation of Ophiuchus or 'Serpent Bearer' (hence Orphic Serpent worship) & had pillars of Emerald (Jasper) & Gold, ie Isis (Tree of Life) and Osiris (Tree of Knowledge). The Jerusalem Temple only took payment in "Shekels of Tyre" a currency minted during the Israelite rebellion against Rome, hence _"give that which is Caesar's unto Caesar"_ When Alexander sacked Tyre in 332BC they relocated to Carthage meaning "New City" or New Jerusalem, & built a second temple with Pillars of Bronze. Nebuchadnezzar also sieged Tyre for 13 years, taking the City captive in 573BC: the same time as the biblical account, & again the Romans in 70AD after a 3.5 year siege, also consistent with the same biblical accounts. Palaset was the name of a tribe of the Sea Peoples, Pallas _Set_ denotes the New Moon of Ammun Ra rising in Gemini, the *Pallas* Constellation of the Twins "that stand before Orion", due West of the Temple between the Gates [Pillars] of Gibraltar; "Gabriel's Altar", ie 'Pallas Stein', or Pallas Stone, 'Phallus' or Philosopher's Stone: the _"Rising Son"._ So 'Wormwood', like 'Tyre' means 'Bitter Rock', for the same reason; as the Son rising from the 'Bitter' [Salt or 'Black'] Sea of the Underworld; The 'Black Rock' or 'Gatestone' 🌑 The Cross of Tyre or Ba'El ❌ represents Lunar maximums & minimums & correlates with the Cross Quarter days of the Solstice Calendar. Align the Cross ❌ Chi Rho Christian ✝️ & Star 🔯 to the Zodiac, & you have a Compass & Timepiece that correlates to the Nautical Mile; allowing for global Maritime navigation. It is in fact an Astrological allegory for a Sothic Metonic Saros Zodiac Calendar using Accusations in a Mirror 🪞 *A Phoenix **_Cypher_*

[@zipperpillow]

Or don't get married. If she's so freaky, skip it. If she's not useful, what are you doing? Shoes are useful, lighting is useful, a knife is useful, is a wife? No wonder they are replaced with animals. At least animals can be useful.

[@EmL-kg5gn]

@@zipperpillow Women don’t exist to serve you, they are not things to possess and use. I hope you take your own advice! It seems you would be deeply unhappy if you had to deal with the differing priorities and perspective of another person

[@drfill9210]

Just before I settle down and listen, I'm about 5mins in... there have been movies about a woman who turns into a falcon by day and woman by night and a man who is a wolf by night and a man by day. They can only see each other briefly in the twilight.

[@alexmoes3225]

@@drfill9210 Ladyhawk

[@drfill9210]

@@alexmoes3225 THAT'S it!!!

[@drfill9210]

@@alexmoes3225 I think the sequel was manchild? 🤣🤣

[@andrewmcclure7813]

I’ve actually had two versions of the Magic Wife tale-type recounted to me in Africa: one in Ghana and one in Kenya.

[@its0KagemanxD]

1001 nights fairytales, and Grimm, and even the little mermaid (original tale) have remnants

[@alexeysaphonov232]

In Grimm there is even a sort of similar but somehow very different (reverse) motif "Froschkönig oder Eisern Heinrich". Which I remembered because it is the same animal "frog" which brings me to the russian "frog-princes" which is exactly the story.

[@3rdeye671]

Clokes of feathers are associated with Shamanism. The bird motif is associated with the Cygnus constellation, the Great Spirit Bird that takes the souls of the dead to the land of the dead beyond the river that is the Milky Way. Water fowl link to the underworld. We still tell of the Stork bringing the new born baby to the world.

[@groverc.loweiv8987]

@@3rdeye671 Cygnus X-1 is an interesting observation, the apple, baby, etc... My second time watching the video. Reminded me of Cygnus also

[@robynlouise6017]

Thanks for the female angle. I was wondering where the female magic had gone in the mythical record.

[@danyellerobinson5940]

@@robynlouise6017 ... hermetics, healers, devine feminine were vilified as witches, hunted, tortured and murdered.

[@Fohnacide777]

long gone, for the time being....

[@Uncanny_Mountain]

Aquarius will be ruled by Women

[@Solid_IP]

Only if men let them.

[@danyellerobinson5940]

@@Solid_IP ... lmao 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣. You silly boy. What did your mother do to you?

[@tommyschmierer4627]

Never heard of it ... I'm Serbian and Hungarian btw ... So, I've heard lottsa Slavic & Magyar stories... I'm happy to learn about something new tho 💯 ... Thanks 🙏🏽

[@margaretanderson6924]

Thank you for another fascinating installment. I appreciate the academic scholarship + maps/visual aids, & your bedtime storyteller's voice is a bonus! Cheers from Wisconsin, USA! xo

[@dougw4034]

Mate, you are an absolute jem. So interesting and soothing to listen to

[@TioDeive]

Yes, a truly legend!

[@tygereyes]

I always enjoy your analysis - fantastic.

[@Crecganford]

Thank you.

[@hannahbobanna9650]

If the men find out we can shapeshift, they're going to tell the church

[@EmL-kg5gn]

Omg 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I didn’t expect this but it’s perfect

[@dubuyajay9964]

Weren't there Norse Sagas of vikings marrying Sami Shamanesses for this very reason?

[@zipperpillow]

They probably just knew how to dress-out and preserve reindeer meat. The Norse were idiots.

[@dubuyajay9964]

@@zipperpillow The guys who invented the Sunstone and Water Compass are "idiots." Ok then.

[@yalilbrothegonewild8164]

Lots in Norse mythos. Also an old vampire tale.

[@yalilbrothegonewild8164]

​@@zipperpillowclearly a Christian

[@dubuyajay9964]

@@yalilbrothegonewild8164 Vampire Tale?

[@Skyfire-x]

Japanese folklore has Yuki Onna.

[@3rdeye671]

Is she a fox?

[@loreamar3]

No, but there's a fox wive. Yuki ona always has human shape.

[@3rdeye671]

@@Skyfire-x and what is magical about her?

[@T_sexc]

" the princess and the frog is my favorite fairy tale"🐸

[@juliamavroidi8601]

Fascinating and informative video as always! In videos like this where geography plays a large role it might be helpful to incorporate more maps into the video. Particularly the discussion of the different migratory movements was a bit tough to follow without visual aids.

[@Crecganford]

It takes a lot of time to create the maps, but I will continue to try and improve

[@juliamavroidi8601]

@@Crecganford Fair point! Love your work

[@mrpocock]

​@@Crecganfordthe maps are really useful. What step takes the time? Perhaps we can automate some of it?

[@theemmengard4144]

The magic wife in Roan Inish always stuck out to me. The impact of the selkie wife who couldn’t be kept from the sea on the whole family following her return to the sea.

[@dnaartonline]

Fascinating!

[@nesmetana]

The Frog Wife and the Swan Princess are my favourite among Slavic tales. Thanks so much for making a video about this motif. I'm a little disappointed though that while you put great effort into explaining how the motif travelled the globe, you didn't say much about the cultural meaning behind it. Please consider making more videos on the topic. Thanks again for your amazing work!

[@Crecganford]

In short, if a man married a woman who he thought was from the stars, then he was a very lucky man indeed. It's far more complex than that, but feel free to look at the mythology database if you want to dive into the topic more deeply.

[@emilyh4043]

Thank you very much for your hard work. Blessings.

[@eacalvert]

Super interesting as always

[@llechatton]

Basically, magical wives know when you cheat. And they will leave you when they find out.

[@stamate2na]

Dans le folklore roumain, dans le “Conte de Harap Alb” (recueil et écrit par Ion Creanga) on rencontre la future femme du personnage principal, une fille capable, entre autre, de se transformer en oiseau. Dans un autre recueil du même auteur , le « Conte du cochon », on y rencontre cette fois le personnage du garçon qui a les capacités d’un être ambivalent: cochon le jour, homme la nuit. Merci pour vos explications et longues recherches!

[@arielleshort2072]

The first magic wife story I heard was the swan wife.

[@cordatusscire344]

Fairly recent research suggests human presence on the western coast of North America, dating back over 125,000(?) years ago. Plant seeds underfoot in fossilized human footprints, indicate they were on the surface when a woman and child passed over the area. Likely part of a group. Not sure how it relates, for that entire line of people may have vanished from time.

[@ArelionaedhilVelarissil]

Thanks very much for this analysis. I really appreciate your work. What came to my mind contemplating on this myth: anthropologists and ethnologists stress that marriage is just one way to organize relationships. Some believe that it was uncommon in hunter gatherers, and we still find cultures, with no concept of a nuclear family. Are there any myths or folklore about relationships in other social models? Is it possible to pin the start of the nuclear family trope in myths for time and potentially region?

[@Crecganford]

That is an interesting question, and I have to admit I do not recall such motifs in myth, as families tend to be more of a folklore theme. But I'll have a ponder and see if there is anything I can find.

[@SvenEdelweiss]

Great video thank you very much sir!

[@AmyDanley-White]

The TV show Bewitched.

[@Thomas_H_Sears]

It is important to recall that humans crossed arctic ice and followed ocean currents. Arctic Europe and Arctic America are as contingent as Siberia and Alaska; China and Alaska are connected by North Pacific gyre, which also links Siberia and Mesoamerica.

[@fatimaengel1757]

These stories should be categorized under the category “turning of the equinox”

[@Dloin]

The title made me think of the Silver Bride. That's a song by Amorphis. Iam not sure but I think it's a our a Smith making his own Wife. Finnish mythology I guess.

[@Kreln1221]

🧜‍♀️ *The European myth of **_Queen Melusine_** would definitely qualify as "magic wife" traditional folklore.* 🤔

[@lindsayheyes925]

I've been drinking so many mugs of tea recently. Merlin's missus, Hippolytus' necromantic step-mum, etc., and the wicked stepmother and the fairy godmother come to mind as this myth.

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

Some fantastic myths in this one, thanks for the vid!

[@Crecganford]

Thank you.

[@alia7368]

Curious diversion of topic: Shall we see a video surrounding the myths and/or stories that may exists behind the "reasoning" for Head-Hunting? Given how many tribes or subculture groups of peoples surviving into the early 20th century were still commited to the task in the Balkans and in South Pacific (ie Borneo, etc)

[@gaufrid1956]

I have two magic wives. My human wife is a Higaonon baylan (shaman, healer and masseur). She says that I also have "an invisible wife", a diwata. In Higaonon Binukid "tumanud hu abu" ("guardian of the ash"), a guardian spirit that lives in our kitchen. My tumanud is certainly female. Here in the Philippines, there are many beliefs about non-human spirits who interact with, and sometimes form relationships with, humans. There is another world just beyond the veil.

[@zipperpillow]

Tell us more. This sounds very fascinating.

[@gaufrid1956]

@@zipperpillow It certainly is interesting. How do I know that my tumanud is female? Well, a couple of things. On a number of occasions, I have experienced while lying in bed, a tingling sensation over my whole body. This is what Filipinos call "kilig". It's similar to how you might feel if your wife sneaks up on you and kisses you on the back of the neck. The second thing is that I often chat online on Messenger with my human wife, as she is away from home a lot. When I do, and often just as we start to chat, the water dispenser in our kitchen "rumbles". My wife says "Nag selos siya" ("She is jealous"). Filipinas are known for being very protective of their partners and jealous of other women. On a few occasions I have also felt "someone" sit on the corner of my bed. It's not scary, but kind of comforting. Twice I have actually heard a voice, where the words sounded like "Oo! Oo!" which means "Yes! Yes!" in many Filipino languages, including "Bisaya" (Cebuano) which we speak here. The first occasion was at 3:00 AM when I had gone downstairs to the bathroom, so yes, I was awake. My bedroom is upstairs. As I heard the voice, the bathroom door vibrated strongly for quite a few seconds. Earthquakes are common in the Philippines, so when I got up in the morning, I checked the website that reports earthquakes, and there were no quakes in the area. Two days later, I had an accidental injury at home that required medical treatment. I interpreted the voice as a warning, but that she was there with me. I had quite a lot of pain from the injury, and difficulty sleeping for a few weeks afterwards. Guess what? In the very early hours after midnight, about two weeks later, as I lay awake suffering pain, the very same voice happened again. This time, it came from the internal wall in the main bedroom where I was sleeping. Again, I thought this was to comfort me, and show that she was there with me. Frequently, the water dispenser will "rumble" when I go downstairs in the morning, or before I go to bed at night. This sometimes also happens when I chat online with family members in Australia, and when watching MTV, especially if the music video features women. When my human wife is coming home, I tell my tumanud, and she is almost always completely quiet while my wife is at home. Even though I am often the only human in the house, I am never alone. It's very comforting.

[@mysticbeeing]

@@gaufrid1956 be wary of claiming spirits as well. I can’t help but to feel that there’s similarity to the Mesopotamian Lilthu spirits. While the dead can be helpful it is not their purpose to comfort the living.

[@88marome]

No, there isn't an other world. It's dangerous to believe in your fantasies, because it makes you easier to fool and makes you less keen on taking care of the only life that you can know to be real.

[@meisteremm]

​@88marome Or people can believe what they want, and you can mind your own business. What harm does this man believing in spirits actually do to you, or for that matter, anyone else?

[@elizabethford7263]

I really appreciate that you teach us how mythological studies are done from an academic perspective. My undergrad degree is Anthro, but I chose my Master's and PhD in Archaeology. I wish I had chosen Cultural Anthro instead because it would have opened so many more avenues of research. I'm now a World History teacher for grades 9-12 and many of my students are passionate about mythology. If they chose to study it at University, would you suggest they study it through Anthropology or through Literature?

[@Crecganford]

That's a great question, I see students who get really interested in mythology studying classics or religous history, but to me this can be limiting in overall awareness of the subject. And so both cultural anthropology or ethnography would also be a great direction into the subject. The broader the array of research areas being covered, the more likely we will be able to find and translate data more accurately which can only help this field.

[@vapormissile]

"Conjure Wife" novel by Fritz Leiber

[@malaltherenegadegod]

I can't. I try and look into this stuff and invariably, INEXPLICABLY, i break down and cry. Stuff hits me in the DEEP FEELS.

[@heleneabergman]

I always learn from your videos. Let me (possibly) return the favor. My first exposure with folklore typology was through Howard Schwartz and Peninnah Schram, who focus on Jewish folk lore. They introduced me to Professor Dov Noy, who studied under Stith Thomp­son. Dov and his stu­dents, espe­cial­ly Heda Jason, expand­ed the cat­e­gories developed by Thomp­son and Antti Aarne, pub­lished as Types of the Folk­tale, iden­ti­fy­ing hun­dreds of plots that appeared in tra­di­tion­al folk­lore, by insert­ing spe­cif­ic Jew­ish tale types. This made it pos­si­ble to clas­si­fy and ana­lyze the var­i­ous types of Jew­ish folk­tales, dis­cern­ing their unique­ly Jew­ish aspects as well as uni­ver­sal tale types.

[@Crecganford]

Thank you for sharing that. There is work been carried out all the time trying to categorize folklore of specific traditions, the Siberian tales have just been done about 3 months ago. I shall look up these Jewish ones as well, as if I can incorporate the data in my database this can only help students and academic studing this topic.

[@erpthompsonqueen9130]

Thank you. Watching from Alaska. 👍 Well done.

[@AmberWarnack]

Thank you for using left brain bridging to help the population with digesting the right/whole brained thinking and expressions of our ancestors!

[@feralbluee]

There is the Irish myth of the mermaid becoming a man’s wife. He hides her fish skin. But after a number of years and children, she finds it and goes home as she misses her free life in the ocean. He misses her very much, but must say goodbye 🧜🏻‍♀️🪷🪸

[@VorkHammerfist]

I first encountered this motif in my dad's AD&D(1E) Fiend Folio, specifically the selkie and swanmay. The swanmay described in the Fiend Folio is based primarily on Alianora the swanmay in Paul Anderson's Three Hearts and Three Lions.

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Wonderful history and thank you for this. (And you used lower lighting).

[@bloglivethehighve]

I m born on the border with Ukraine and a version of this is one of my childhood stories 😊 💖

[@r0se_black_h0le]

Very interesting myth, thank you. This reminds me the old story of a magic wife marrying a very non magic man in the French medieval lore. That’s the fairy Mélusine, endowed with magic and a certain shape-shifting ability. A very interesting archetype. Though, beyond all those myths and legends, is hidden the ultimate plain sight truth that beyond even women, so not just to be limited to their wifey human condition which I always find quite a bit too limiting in so many extents, Yin energy is the very underlying magic of all those stories and tales of Truth untold, though quite resounding for those with eyes to listen deeply and ears to see with beyond vision. Just my two magic cents! ✨🤗✨

[@OmegaWolf747]

Would the Scottish story of the selkie be part of this? A fisherman captures a selkie by stealing and hiding her seal skin and is able to keep her until she finds it and swims away.

[@Crecganford]

I think there would be an argument to say it could be linked to the aquatic mammal variant, and so yes.

[@zipperpillow]

Selkies were Inuit from Greenland who arrived by skin kayak. The Kayak is her "Skin". These encounters actually happened and a myth/folktale was created aound it that made the Inuit "seals" because their clothes and boats were made out of seal skins.

[@bjchadwick4261]

Aren’t the Scottish Sulkie stores this type?

[@waynesworldofsci-tech]

Jon, search out the song “Velvet” by Talis Kimberly. It’s based on this myth and I suspect you’d love it.

[@starpenta]

There was a myth about a French mermaid type creature called Melusine. It's been a while since I've read it do I don't remember the details but she married a man and has children with him nc somehow she can be human except on Saturdays and gets him to promise not to look. Agter many years and three daughters later, he does so she takes the kids and leaves. I think yhere was a Scottish fairy tale similar to this, except she was literally a fairy and she left a piece of cloth behind to blesd the house/castle. Both were late enough to be affected by Christianity. Melusine's fish half was considered a part of a dragon, or the great snake, that was associated with Satan. Edit: also, the Celtic myth, The Children of Lir.

[@reneecarrier2440]

@@starpenta Mélusine who is now featured on the Starbucks logo, sadly…

[@starpenta]

@@reneecarrier2440 I heard the image was taken from a Greek image and the name 'Starbucks' was from Moby Dick (the first mate was named Starbuck). I read about Melusine reading about Starbucks though, lol, bc I was trying to figure out what the difference was between sirens and mermaids and why their reputation went from evil seductress to fairy tale princess. Somewhere down the rabbit hole I came across the story about Melusine.

[@nkjnr72]

Quite bizarre - woke up this morning on my 20th Anniversary and this is the first video on my feed. I’m sure she’s at it! 😂

[@probablyrajir638]

It's really interesting to see how myths reflect Iceland's and Faroe Islands migration. On this map, it's clear that the version with the sea mammal is prevalent in British Isles as well as in Iceland's & the Faroe Islands, while the mouse is the big player in the Nordics and Mainland Europe. Just another clue to how important British Isle's culture is to Iceland's & Faroe Islands' culture

[@Crecganford]

Yes, landscape and society really do effect a myths characters, but we normally find the core motif remains, which makes studying them so useful and fascinating.

[@2degucitas]

1,000 points for pronouncing french accurately! 🗼 🥖

[@bredmond812]

I love your content and i am drinking hot water out of one of my Crecganford mugs right now. This video reminds me of my favorite classical Chinese story, called Miss Ren, which is apparently not only a Magic Wife story, but also a usurpation of a fox story.

[@Crecganford]

Thank you for getting a mug and sharing the story title, and I shall try and find it, and see if there is a copy I can put in the mythology database.

[@maidingermany]

Macha and her curse of the men of Ulster is very popular in Ireland, and only one of many stories about the wives from the otherworld in Mythologie.

[@ImmmaI]

I was thinking about the swan lake (I only know the Barbie one)

[@easygreasy3989]

Can you please do a story on the southern African people? U said something about the fox and something... Being some of the oldest zones in the world it will be interesting to hear more. Thanks for the value.❤

[@VeteranExpat]

This makes me wonder How much human migration was following birds?

[@zimriel]

On the oceans? Probably all of it.

[@teddybetts3254]

There was an interesting movie a couple years ago called The Secret of Roan Inish. I assume you probably heard about it. It's a long the lines of the magic wife thing.

[@DuanTorruellas]

I've been married to a beautiful woman , and I agree wives are a gift . Women are magikal creatures. ❤❤❤

[@johnssmith4005]

Magically Mandated Wives is the only viable solution for the birthrate problem

[@LuDux]

I'm especially intrigued by Vietnamese tale. In (mostly) Lithuanian tale "Eglė the Queen of Serpents" young maiden after bathing finds a grass snake in her clothes. Grass snake returns her clothes only in return for promise to marry him. Tale explains origin not of falling stars but of trees. My totally amateur theory is that this tale may be, among other things, about contact between local hunter-gatherers and arriving indo-europeans

[@Crecganford]

The motif of the trees is told all around the pacific rim, and so is unlikely to be connected to Indo-European influence.

[@LuDux]

@@Crecganford I meant other part of tale where Egle's brothers kill her husband.

[@Tymbus]

Really interesting. I'm glad you addressed the issue of "dispersal" of culture around the world. I don't know enough about dispersal theories. but In terms of myths it makes total sense. Dispersal theories have been debunked in terms of archetecture because false conclusions are drawn about vaguely similar archetecture such as Egyptian pyramids and Myan temples which have very different ritual functions. If you a good book on dispersal and mythology , please could you reference it for me?

[@Crecganford]

Witzel's book "Origins of the World Mythologies" is good start, but I also talk about it in my Origins of Dragons video, which explains how an older myth diesperses, changes, and disperses again.

[@kolober2045]

The problem with ATU that you describe reminds me of early taxonomy, which focused on superficial similarities in form on species rather than evolutionary relationships.

[@Crecganford]

Yes, it has a purpose, it is just that the purpose doesn't fit certain aspects of analysis.

[@mayj257]

the celtic Kelpies stories have been around for long time as well

[@idabrit]

Interesting, I was listening to an episode of the NatGeo Greeking Out podcast the other day telling the Chinese myth of the White Snake. Surely that is an example of this motif? But you don’t mention snake-wives?

[@Crecganford]

I'm not familiar with that story, certainly if she is benevolent, and helps the hero then it maybe an example.

[@susannelambropoulos6185]

What about the mermaid wife? To my knowledge in northern Europe, but bot only. Great stuff!

[@teleriferchnyfain]

Korea has The Woodcutter & the Fairy, & Korea & Japan both have Fox wives - 9 Tailed Foxes. Then you have the Selkies (Celtic) & mermaids. These are all the hidden clothes motif combined with the magical wife.

[@MrBlazingup420]

I don't know what 70,000 is, but setanta means 70, and Setanta means "He who knows the Way", the name of the Irish hero, Cú Chulain, the "Hound of Ulster". Fand, a fairy woman who offers herself to Cú Chulainn as a wife. In exchange, Cú Chulainn agrees to fight in a battle on the fairy Plain of Light, where he kills the fairy king and many of their champions. Cú Chulainn then takes Fand as his wife and stays with her for a month. Emer, Cuchulain’s wife, was none too happy when she heard of this tryst and assembled 50 of her maidens to slay Fand. He addresses Emer in a curious poem, describing the beauty and skill and magical powers of Fand “There is nothing the spirit can wish for that she had not got”, Fand a Fairy Woman, described as ‘the pearl of beauty’, wife of Manannan MacLir, the Sea God. But Manannan, the son of the Sea, knew of her sorrow and her shame, and he came to her aid, none seeing him but she alone, and she welcomed him in a mystic song. “Wilt thou return to me?” said Manannan, “or abide with Cuchulainn?” “In truth”, said Fand, “neither of ye is better or nobler than the other, but I will go with thee, Manannan, for thou hast no other mate worthy of thee, but that Cuchulainn has in Emer”. Laeg, the charioteer, had to tell Cú Chulainn, she went to Manannan, and Cuchulainn, who did not see the god, asked Laeg what was happening. “Fand”, he replied, “Is going away with the Son of the Sea, since she hath not been pleasing in thy sight”.