Abduction

Abduction, in this context, refers to the capture, carrying off, or imprisonment of a girl or woman for sex and/or marriage. It is thought to the one of the earliest marriage ceremonies. Unknown. (1972). "Abduction", in Leach, M. (ed) Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend. 3rd ed. pp.3-4
The biblical Book of Judges describes the abduction of four hundred virgins of Jabesh-gilead by the tribe of Benjamin, followed by more members of that tribe abducting women from Shiloh.
The Roman story of the Rape of the Sabine Women is one of the most well-known abduction stories in the modern day.
The ancient Tuetones practiced marriage by abduction, and the practice is recorded as being done by certain south Slavic groups as recently as the 19th century. Owing to the ancient practice, a number of modern cultures include a mock abduction as part of wedding ceremonies, such as the Scandinavian Bortdansingen folk dance, wherein the dancers try to steal the bride from her female guardians.
In folktales, a common story is that of a beautiful woman being abducted by a supernatural lover, typically a god, centaur, ogre, giant, dwarf, whirlwind, fairy, water spirit, merman, or animal, and taken to live a carefree life in their lover's home. Examples include the kidnapping of Europa by Zeus in the form of a bull, the kidnapping of Persephone by Hades, blonde Scandinavian girls being kidnapped by kind and wealthy polar bears, and the Water-Monster of the Chiricahua Apache who kidnapped a young girl when she came to his water pool and was later a benevolent son-in-law to her people. 
Somewhat more malevolent abduction stories generally have the devil carrying off wicked people, typically faultfinders, scolding women, usurers, and others. There is also a Hottentot story of a boy abducted by baboons, which served as inspiration for the abduction of Mowgli by the Bander-log in the Jungle Book.
== References ==
Category:Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend
Category:Marriage Rituals