a less whimsical illustration that encapsulates the fun of searching an archive of over 15

The Archive...

Have a wander through the Fireside folktale archive below, and see what you stumble into. Use the filters to narrow the world down, or fling the doors wide and browse by country, region, theme, collector, or whatever takes your fancy, then let the table do the rest. A few clicks can carry you from storm-tossed coasts to mountain villages, from clever tricksters to quiet miracles, and you will often find that the story you meant to read is not the one that chooses you.

Archive under construction...

Structured Filters

Use these drop down lists to choose one or more filters to select groups of tales to investigate in more detail

Other than my own versions of tales (as indicated), the stories in this archive are in the public domain

Stories in this view:

3988

Title	Book	Author / Collector	Country	Subject	Year
Driving Back Rerek	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Driving Back Rerek: repelling chaos, danger, and hostile monstrous force	1901
Of Not Sailing To The East	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Not Sailing To The East: avoiding danger, correct cosmic direction.	1901
The Taking Of Joppa	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	The Taking Of Joppa: stratagem, conquest, and cunning military success	1901
Of Transformation Into A Hawk	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Transformation Into A Hawk: spiritual ascent, divine vision, empowered transformation.	1901
Of Knowing The Souls Of Nekhen	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Knowing The Souls Of Nekhen: sacred knowledge of ancestral divine forces	1901
A Hymn To The Setting Sun	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	A Hymn To The Setting Sun: evening praise, transition, and cyclical renewal	1901
Address To The Gods Of The Underworld	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Address To The Gods Of The Underworld: supplication, recognition, and safe passage among deities	1901
Of Transformation Into A God	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Transformation Into A God: apotheosis, divine becoming, and exalted immortality	1901
Of Bringing A Boat Along In Heaven	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Bringing A Boat Along In Heaven: celestial journey, movement, divine navigation.	1901
Litany	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Litany: repeated invocation, praise, and ritual appeal to divinity	1901
Of Going Into The Boat Of Ra	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Going Into The Boat Of Ra: joining Ra’s solar journey through divine order	1901
The Lamentations Of Isis And Nephthys	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	The Lamentations Of Isis And Nephthys: mourning, devotion, and resurrection through grief	1901
The Chapter Of Giving A Mouth To The Overseer	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	The Chapter Of Giving A Mouth To The Overseer: restored speech, ritual empowerment, rebirth.	1901
Soul And Body	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Soul And Body: relationship between spirit, flesh, and continuing existence	1901
Hymn To Ra-Harmachis	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Hymn To Ra-Harmachis: praise, solar divinity, cosmic order.	1901
The Solemn Festal Dirge Of The Egyptians	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	The Solemn Festal Dirge Of The Egyptians: ritual mourning, remembrance, ceremonial grief	1901
Of Entering The Boat Of Ra	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Entering The Boat Of Ra: admission to divine company and solar passage	1901
The Chapter Of Giving A Heart To Osiris	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	The Chapter Of Giving A Heart To Osiris: restoration, wholeness, and revivifying the divine dead	1901
The Chapter Of Preserving The Heart	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	The Chapter Of Preserving The Heart: safeguarding memory, identity, and moral essence	1901
Opening The Mouth Of Osiris	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Opening The Mouth Of Osiris: restored senses, speech, ritual reanimation.	1901
The Amorite Treachery	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	The Amorite Treachery: betrayal, warfare, and political deceit	1901
Rubric	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Rubric: ritual instruction, sacred procedure, ceremonial guidance.	1901
The Chapter Of Giving A Mouth To Osiris Ani	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	The Chapter Of Giving A Mouth To Osiris Ani: restored speech, ritual power, afterlife awakening.	1901
Driving Away Apshait	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Driving Away Apshait: expulsion of hostile forces, ritual defence.	1901
Repulsing The Eater Of The Ass	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Repulsing The Eater Of The Ass: warding off devourers, bodily protection, survival.	1901
Of The Crocodile	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of The Crocodile: confronting danger, warding off predatory forces.	1901
Of The Living Soul	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of The Living Soul: enduring spiritual vitality beyond bodily death	1901
For The New Moon	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	For The New Moon: renewal, sacred time, and cyclical beginning	1901
Of Drinking Water	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Drinking Water: sustenance, refreshment, and survival in the afterlife	1901
Northern Palestine	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Northern Palestine: frontier struggle, campaign, and Egyptian reach abroad	1901
Hymn To Osiris	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Hymn To Osiris: praise of death, resurrection, and just kingship	1901
Of Going About In The Underworld	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Going About In The Underworld: navigation, endurance, and knowledge of the dead	1901
Of Bringing Men Back To Earth	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Bringing Men Back To Earth: return, restoration, and reversal of separation	1901
Chapter Of Knowledge	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Chapter Of Knowledge: sacred knowledge, power, preparedness for the afterlife.	1901
Of Making Perfect The Khu	Egyptian Book Of the Dead	Epiphanius Wilson	Generic	Of Making Perfect The Khu: spiritual perfection, luminous soul, completion.	1901
The Gold Spinners (1)	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Gold Spinners: spinning, magic, forest cottage, mystery, wealth, transformation, revelation, reward	1869
The Dwarves Controversy	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Dwarves Controversy: dwarves, underground realm, dispute, hidden world, chance encounter, obligation, return	1869
How An Orphan Unexpectedly Found Happiness	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	How An Orphan Unexpectedly Found Happiness: orphanhood, hardship, providence, magical aid, perseverance, reward, social ascent	1869
The Twelve Daughters	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Twelve Daughters: sisterhood, mystery, hidden journeys, royal test, secrecy, discovery, marriage	1869
The Underground Ones	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Underground Ones: underground folk, hidden wealth, otherworld, winter, chance crossing, obligation, secrecy	1869
Rõugataja's Daughter	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	Rõugataja’s Daughter: courtship, beauty, status, hidden worth, rivalry, recognition, marriage	1869
Clever	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	Clever: wit, riddles, peasant shrewdness, social reversal, deception, problem-solving, justice	1869
How A King's Son Grew Up As A Guardian Boy	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	How A King’s Son Grew Up As A Guardian Boy: hidden identity, exile, humble upbringing, destiny, endurance, royal restoration, class reversal	1869
The Tontla Forest	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Tontla Forest: haunted forest, stepfamily cruelty, hidden people, fear, enchantment, escape, belonging	1869
Pikne's Bagpipes	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	Pikne’s Bagpipes: thunder god, theft, devil, divine power, cunning recovery, sacred object, cosmic struggle	1869
The Hangmen	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Hangmen: crime, punishment, justice, fear, authority, retribution, dark humour	1869
The King's Daughter Sprouted From The Egg	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The King’s Daughter Sprouted From The Egg: miraculous birth, destiny, wonder, princess, magical origins, royal fate	1869
The Son Of Thunder	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Son Of Thunder: devil bargain, thunder god, stolen weapon, trickery, cosmic conflict, liberation, victory	1869
The Nordlands Dragon	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Nordlands Dragon: dragon, northern quest, peril, bravery, rescue, monster-slaying, adventure	1869
The Hearty Squad Overseer	Ehstnische Fairy Tales	Reinhold Köhler	Estonia	The Hearty Squad Overseer: strength, leadership, labour, discipline, peasant life, authority, resilience	1869

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