Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

A2 — Several suns.

151 Myths, legends and folktales

151 Unique narratives for motif A2

66 Cultures & traditions where A2 is told

12 Sub-motifs of motif A2

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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

Overview

There was a time when several, i.e. more than two, suns shone in the sky at the same time.

Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.

A2 has 12 other sub-motifs

A2.  There was a time when several, i.e. more than two, suns shone in the sky at the same time.
A2a.  The world was or will be (almost) burned when several suns lit up or will light up simultaneously; or destructive heat (or light) once emanated from one sun.
A2a1.  At first, the moon was as bright and hot as the sun.
A2b.  In addition to the current sun and/or moon, other suns and moons shone in the sky, which were then destroyed. See motif A2A.
A2b1.  Two or more suns shine in the sky. When the extra ones are destroyed, there is a danger that the last one will be destroyed along with them and darkness will ensue.
A2c.  The extra suns that existed in the past or may appear in the future are the children of the Sun-father. See motif A2A.
A2c1.  The Sun is going to have children. One of the animals warns that if the Sun has children, the world will burn. The Sun has to (refuse marriage and) remain childless.
A2c2.  The catastrophe threatening the earth is associated with the appearance of not only several suns, but also several moons.
A2c3.  In extraordinary circumstances, the moon or sun are not round, but have corners and edges.
A2d.  Other suns illuminate other levels of the universe or will shine sequentially in the future.
A2e.  The sun and/or moon – severed heads of anthropomorphic beings.
A2F.  Suns grow on tree branches.
A2G.  At different times throughout the day, different suns shine in the sky.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of A2’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
B3D	99.57%	The earth is obtained by a worm; it arises from worm excrement, extracted from the worm.
M130B	99.48%	A herbivorous animal falls into a hunter's trap. The predator does not want to release it, as it hopes to eat its entrails, but the bird helps it to escape. The hunter tries to kill the bird, but instead kills the predator.
A46	99.31%	The sun and moon (Rigveda: only the sun) emerge from the eyes of an anthropomorphic creature.
K27ZZ2	99.30%	Several wives of one man (several sisters) go blind – the older ones in both eyes, and the younger one in one eye.
M152D	99.26%	The elephant and the tiger (lion) engage in combat (usually competing to see who can roar louder). The tiger wins and is about to eat the elephant, but a small animal saves it.
M152E	99.17%	A tiger (lion) and another animal compete to see whose roar is louder. The tiger roars louder, but ultimately loses.
I8H	99.17%	The earth is supported by a man and a woman in the underworld.
K33A3	99.17%	A woman, turned into a turtle because of her rival's intrigues, tries to establish contact with her children or husband.
B116B	98.91%	A book containing sacred knowledge falls into the water at a crossing or gets wet in some other way. After that, the book disappears or the text becomes unreadable. Either the book is ruined (damaged) when it is dried. Or it is ruined while left unattended on the shore while the people who kept it are swimming; or it burns, although traces remain.
H34C	98.87%	Rice flew (came) from the field to the house.

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

66 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 66 traditions: Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria, Alor, Solor, Wetar, Atauru, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken), Mentawai, Dusun, Murut, Kelabit, Tombonuwo, Bajau, Tidong, Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan, Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Khmer, Wa (incl Kawa), Bulang, Palaung (De Ang, Deang), Semang, Senoi, Santali, Turi, Mahli, Northern Munda of Kharwar branch: Birhor, Ho, Mundari, Kol, Asur (including Agaria, Kol, Birjhia), Bhumij, Bhuiya (now Aryans, originally Munda; Rahman 1955: 203), Baiga, Bhaina, Bhumia (subgroup of Baiga, incl Bharia, formerly Munda, now speak Indo-Aryan languages of neighboring groups), Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, Eastern Arunachal Pradesh: Abor (incl Minyong, Shimong, Padam, Pasi, Panggi), Apa Tani (Apatani), Bori, Bugun, Dafla (=Nyishi, Nisi, Nishing, incl Tagin), Gallong (=Galo, Adi), Mishmi, Kachin (Singpho), Chak, Oraon (Kurukh), Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Maria, Muria, and other South-Central Dravidians: Binjhwar, Bacop, Bhattra, Bom, Jhoria (=Jhodia), Gadaba (in Koraput, neighbors of Munda-speaking Gadaba), Duruwa (Parji), Mehtar; Pardhan, Indian literary tradition (Vedic, Brahman, Purana, Indian Buddhism, Hinduism, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jatakas); iconography of Hindu temples, Tamil, Muthuvan, Marvar, Tamils, Nepali; Tharu, Sinhalese; Vedda, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Meo (Hmong) of Thailand, Laos and Northern Vietnam, Li , Lahu, Kucong, Nosu, Nisu, Nusu, Sani, Jino, Lavrung, Jiarong; Qiang (incl rGyalrong), Kirati (Kiranti): Rai (incl Thulung), Limbu, Newar, Tats, Georgians, Buryats: Western (cis Baikal), Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Mongols (Khalkha), Darkhad, Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Udeghe, Oroch, Nanai, Olcha (Ulch), Negidal, Nivkh, Manchu, Han, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Shasta; Chimariko, Yuma proper (Quechan), Mohave, Maricopa, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Cañari, Kechua-speaking communities of Apurimac, Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno departments; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries; Callawaya (Kechua with Pukina substratum), Kamayura, Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Lisu, Lolo (incl. Bai), Achang, Yi, Axi, Nasu, Jino, Taungyo, Khamnigans, Buryats: Eastern (trans Baikal), i.e. Khori, Dong, Maonan, China

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