Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

A46A — The sun and moon – the eyes of the deity.

44 Myths, legends and folktales

44 Unique narratives for motif A46A

25 Cultures & traditions where A46A is told

1 Sub-motifs of motif A46A

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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

The sun and moon (Rigveda: only the sun) are associated with the eyes of an anthropomorphic being (the motif of their emergence from the eyes of this being may be absent).

Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon

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

A46 has 1 other sub-motifs

A46. The sun and moon (Rigveda: only the sun) emerge from the eyes of an anthropomorphic creature.
A46a. The sun and moon (Rigveda: only the sun) are associated with the eyes of an anthropomorphic being (the motif of their emergence from the eyes of this being may be absent).

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of A46’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
A46	99.52%	The sun and moon (Rigveda: only the sun) emerge from the eyes of an anthropomorphic creature.
I8H	99.16%	The earth is supported by a man and a woman in the underworld.
K33A3	99.16%	A woman, turned into a turtle because of her rival's intrigues, tries to establish contact with her children or husband.
F45A	98.94%	A woman or female animal conceives by deliberately exposing her genitals to the wind.
M29O1	98.91%	As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the monkey dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets.
K27ZZ2	98.68%	Several wives of one man (several sisters) go blind – the older ones in both eyes, and the younger one in one eye.
J47B	98.67%	When a character runs away from a pursuer, a strong rope (chain, etc.) is lowered (thrown) to him. A rotten rope is lowered to the pursuer, it breaks, and the pursuer crashes (drowns).
B3D	98.62%	The earth is obtained by a worm; it arises from worm excrement, extracted from the worm.
A2	98.50%	There was a time when several, i.e. more than two, suns shone in the sky at the same time.
I81A1	98.45%	The struggle between the crab and the snake (eel) determines the features of the relief of a particular area or has cosmic proportions.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

25 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 25 traditions: Yao, Makua, Tiv, Bamum (Bamun), Mungaka (Mgaka, Bali), Beba, Anaguta, Bete (Mbete, Karang), Ekoi, Nyang, Vute (Wute), Jukun, Chamba, Bamileke, Kwotto, Kirri; Denya (Nyang), Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Tuvalu (Ellice), Chamorro (Guam and other Marianas), Bali, Lombok, Simeulue, Nias, Central islands and Bikol: Vizaya, Mansaká, Bikol, Mangyan, Panayan, Sulod, Cebuano (Cebu), Capiz, Romblomanon, Manuyu, Thai of Vietnam, Tai Lue, Khao (Kho, Tai Don, White Tai), Tai Dam (Black Tai), Nung; Zhuang, Buyi; Shui, 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, 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, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Western Ukrainians, Armenians, Kalmyk, Nenets, Manchu, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, China, Japan

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How to cite: Fielder-White, J. (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com

0009-0006-1672-4451
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