Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

G24 — Food from the sky.

172 Myths, legends and folktales

172 Unique narratives for motif G24

98 Cultures & traditions where G24 is told

1 Sub-motifs of motif G24

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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 first seeds (shoots, tubers) of cultivated or important wild food plants and/or agronomic knowledge were brought from the sky (received from the gods).

Berezkin category: Fertility and Agriculture

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 6, Origin and interpretation of culture elements, in particular related to agriculture, inadequate forms of subsistence and economic activity before the establishment of the present norms.

G24 has 1 other sub-motifs

G24. The first seeds (shoots, tubers) of cultivated or important wild food plants and/or agronomic knowledge were brought from the sky (received from the gods).
G24a. The character steals cultivated plants for people, hiding the seeds on/in his own body.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of G24’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
E7	97.40%	The path from one part of the world to another passes through a narrow opening. The character gets stuck in the opening, permanently severing the connection between the worlds.
L3	95.33%	The demon takes on human form and comes to his wife (less often to another woman). Usually, the woman (alone or with a child) runs away and/or kills the monster, either by herself or with someone's help.
G13B	94.87%	Before the advent of cultivated plants, people ate mushrooms. Creatures of a non-human nature feed on mushrooms. Mushrooms are imaginary, inferior food.
I4A	94.46%	Thunder falls to earth and cannot rise. Usually, a person helps it return to the sky.
F27	94.07%	It is dangerous for girls or women to approach water (water creatures drag them away or swallow them; a girl who approaches water dies; she becomes pregnant by a snake; through her fault, a flood or other disaster occurs; water spirits themselves come to a girl who has her first period).
G5	93.61%	The fruits and shoots of various cultivated plants or the fruits of various wild plants grow on the branches of a single tree or on a single vine; the cultivated plant has a tree-like form that is not characteristic of it in nature.
I14	93.50%	Creatures without an anal opening are described.
G26	93.47%	After swallowing or hiding food in their mouth, the character brings it to earth (passes it on to people).
B12	93.31%	The riverbed follows the path of a snake, fish, dragon, or crab; the river arises from parts of the snake's body; the river is a snake.
M5	93.23%	Once in a situation where his life depends on the will of a demon or animal, the hero feels like insulting or hitting him. See M1 motif.

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

98 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 98 traditions: Malagasy, Dinka, Atuot, Nuer, Zande (Azande, incl Nzakara), Nyatutu, Kiniramba, Isanzu, Rwanda (incl Hutu, Tutsi, Kiga), Rundi, (Ma)Shi, Banyabungu; Rega, Melanesians of the northern coast New Guinea, nearest off-shore islands and Huon Gulf (Morobe district): Watut, Bilbil (Bilibili), Jabim (incl Kai), Tami, Bukawac, Wogeo, Tumleo, Yakamul, Manam, Sissano, Sio, Rotuma, Ulithi, Ngulu, Timor: Amarasi, Tetum, Meto, Atoni (incl Mollo), Kedang (Lomblen island), Leti Islands (Leti, Moa, Lakor), Roti, Ceram: Alune and Wemale (West Ceram), Patasiwa (Ceram), Honitetu (West Ceram Highlands); Nusawele, Hatuolu, Huaolu, Patasiwa; Ambon; Buru, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Minahasa (incl. Tondano, Tentemboan), Bantik, Bugi, Macassar, Batak (Toba, Dairi), Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan, Northern Naga: Konyak, Lungshang, Wancho, Nokte, Moclum, Lunshan, Chang, Maring, Naga of Myanmar, Garo (Atchik), Kachari (Bodo, incl. Lalung), Dimasa, Tripuri, Riang (of Tripura), Khami, Riga, Mori, Rawang, Dulong; Anong, Drung, Kachin (Singpho), Chak, Burusho (Hunza), Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Lahu, Kucong, Nosu, Nisu, Nusu, Sani, Jino, Basques, Iranian literary tradition (including Avesta, Pahlevi scripts, Sah-nameh, Marzban-nameh); Zoroastrians of Iran, Indian Parsees, Zoroastrianism, Ossetians, Laks, Mordvins, Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans, Ainu, Manchu, Inland Tlingit, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Five Nations Iroquois (Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga), Hidatsa, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Okanagon, Sanpoil, Karok, Chitimacha, Alabama, Koasati, Yana, Owens Valley Paiute, Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Ute, Southern Paiute, Hopi, Tepecano, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Tepehua, Totonac, Huastec (Teenek), Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Tzotzil, Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan, Lacandon, Guaymi, Bocota, Dorasque; XVI century data on Western Panama, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Tunebo, Yupa (Yukpa), Guajiro, Sicuani, Makiritare (Yecuana), Trio, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Akawai, Kofan, Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Aguaruna, Huambiza, Chayahuita , Wanana, Tucano proper, Pira-Tapuya, Arapaso, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Andoque, Kechua-speaking communities of Apurimac, Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno departments; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries; Callawaya (Kechua with Pukina substratum), Aimara, Atacameño, Ashaninca (Campa), Machiguenga, Moseten, Chimane, Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Yabuti, Amniapä, Kumana, Wari (Aikana), More (Itene), Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Kamayura, Caraja, Tapirape, Cayapo (incl. Kubenkranken, Pau d’Arco, Shikrin or Xikrin), Craho, Apinaye (Apinage, Apinaje), Shavante, Mocovi; Kechua of Santiago del Estero with probable Guaikuruan substratum; Abipon, Ayoreo, Mataco, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Chorote, Toba (incl Pilagá), Caduveo, Mbaya, Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Bolivia, China

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

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