Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
A16 — Dangers on the path of the sun.
Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of motif
OverviewEvery night, the sun passes by creatures or objects that try to swallow or destroy it.
Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 94.01% | The Moon is female or hermaphroditic, the Sun is male or, possibly, male. |
| I45B | 93.76% | If you point your finger or stare intently at a rainbow, you will fall ill, or the finger you pointed with will rot or wither away. |
| L14 | 90.02% | People bring a small creature (usually a worm or reptile) into their home and raise it, or it settles into a man-made dwelling on its own. The creature turns into something terrifying or magnificent. See motif L13 (raised monster attacks people). |
| I16 | 88.87% | Early humans have no mouth, anus, or genitals, and their women are unable to give birth. |
| L13 | 88.76% | People feed a dangerous creature, or it grows on its own in a man-made enclosure. Once it becomes big and strong, it starts to destroy people. |
| B41 | 88.65% | Because the dog spread certain information, argued with its owners, and spoke at inappropriate times, it lost the gift of speech. |
| I72 | 88.34% | Stars – anthropomorphic beings. See motif K19 (marriage to a star). Cases where the Star is a unique object, e.g. Venus, rather than one of many Star-people, are not included. |
| G8 | 88.31% | People or animals cut or gnaw at a tree, mountain, or pillar of the sky. The damage disappears as soon as the workers are distracted from their task (usually when they take a break) or periodically (at certain times). |
| A11A | 88.24% | The visible sun or moon are their eyes; if the eyes of the luminaries were not damaged, it would be much brighter and hotter. |
| A12D | 87.36% | Birds attack the sun or moon during an eclipse (covering them with their wings) or (*) cover the sun during sunrise or sunset. See motif A12. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Traditions
32 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 32 traditions: Chagga (Jagga; incl Wasu), Pare, Digo, Rwanda (incl Hutu, Tutsi, Kiga), Rundi, (Ma)Shi, Banyabungu; Rega, Tswana (Chwana), Suto (Soto; incl Pedi, Mbire), Bushmen (all groups), Society Islands: Tahiti, Borabora, Raiatea, Palau (Western Carolines), Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Mentawai, Mindanao and Sulu: Blaan (Bilaan), Bagobo, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Hiligáynon, Binukid, Magindaan (=Magindanao: main Muslim population), Mandaya, Mansaka, Manobo (Agusan, Ata, Dibabawon, Sarangani, Ilianen), Maranao, Samal, Subanon (=Subanun), Subanen, Tboli, Karen, Pa-O, Padaung, Kayah, Semang, Senoi, Western Ukrainians, Laks, Armenians, Ainu, Yuchi, Alabama, Koasati, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), Eastern Keres (Cochiti, Sia, San Felipe, Santo Domingo, Santa Ana, Paguate, Seama), Huichol, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Lacandon, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Colorado (Tsachila), Cayapo (incl. Kubenkranken, Pau d’Arco, Shikrin or Xikrin), Apinaye (Apinage, Apinaje), Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Egypt, China, Palau
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