InthemythologyofChinaweconstantlycomeuponlegendsofsuchtransformations——fromthatofthefirstCounselloroftheHandynastytothoseofshepherdsandsheep。IntheBrahmanicmythologyofIndia，Salagrama，thefossilammonite，isrecognisedascontainingthebodyofVishnu’swife，andtheBinlangstonehasmuchthesamerelationtoSiva；so，too，thenymphRambawaschanged，foroffendingKetu，intoamassofsand；bythebreathofSivaelephantswereturnedintostone；andinaverytouchingmythLuxmanischangedintostonebutafterwardreleased。IntheBuddhistmythologyaNatdemonisrepresentedaschanginghimselfintoagrainofsand。
AmongtheGreekssuchtransformationmythscomeconstantlybeforeus——boththechangingofstonestomenandthechangingofmentostones。DeucalionandPyrrha，escapingfromtheflood，repeopledtheearthbycastingbehindthemstoneswhichbecamemenandwomen；HerauloswaschangedintostoneforoffendingMercury；PyrrhusforoffendingRhea；Phineus，andPolydecteswithhisguests，foroffendingPerseus：underthepetrifyingglanceofMedusa’sheadsuchtransformationsbecameathingofcourse。
Tomyth-makinginobediencetothedesireofexplainingunusualnaturalappearances，coupledwiththeideathatsinmustbefollowedbyretribution，wealsoowethewell-knownNiobemyth。
Havingincurredthedivinewrath，Niobesawthosedearesttoherdestroyedbymissilesfromheaven，andwasfinallytransformedintoarockonMountSipyloswhichboresomevagueresemblancetothehumanform，andhertearsbecametherivuletswhichtrickledfromtheneighbouringstrata。
Thus，inobediencetoamoralandintellectualimpulse，astrikinggeographicalappearancewasexplained，andforagespiousGreekslookedwithbatedbreathupontherockatSipyloswhichwasonceNiobe，justasforagespiousJews，Christians，andMohammedanslookedwithaweuponthesaltpillarattheDeadSeawhichwasonceLot’swife。