Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
H47 — Offended sky/earth.
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
OverviewThe sky (celestial deity) or Earth is offended by people's behaviour towards them and reacts accordingly.
Berezkin category: Paradise Lost
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 3, Cosmogony, the earth and the sky, etiology of the elements, natural and biological phenomena (fire, water, soil, thunderstorms, dream, etc.), cataclysms and cosmic threats, spirits of nature.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| H6A | 91.32% | Mortal humans are contrasted with plants, which regularly shed their bark, bloom in spring after winter dormancy, or reproduce vegetatively. See motif H4. |
| I82B | 87.64% | The Morning and/or Evening Star – a female character. |
| A35 | 86.84% | Dark spots on the lunar disc – dirt, blood, paint, marks from blows, burns on the body or face of a character; they do not form a specific image. See motif A31. |
| I10A | 86.81% | Individual layers or categories of the sky or clouds differ in colour. |
| E9J | 86.25% | Before meeting the hero, his beloved (wife) has the image of a monkey, or the man hides the woman and pretends that the mistress is a monkey. |
| N3 | 85.17% | One finger says he's hungry and/or offers to steal something. The rest of the fingers express their opinion on this matter. |
| M39A2 | 85.05% | The character does ridiculous things, understanding the instructions too literally or one episode late (i.e., doing what was relevant to the previous episode). One episode involves improper handling of a needle and other sharp objects. |
| H39 | 84.88% | Creatures that are now dangerous (snakes, insects) swallow an uncontrolled substance and as a result become poisonous or immortal; creatures acquire their nature (usually becoming poisonous) by drinking or licking a special potion. |
| K38D | 84.86% | A powerful and dangerous character prevents others from using water (or causes floods), but in most cases allows them to take water (promises not to cause floods) in exchange for people or valuables {italicised in the list of traditions}. |
| K56A2 | 82.63% | A character (usually a girl) comes to another (usually an old woman). The latter asks the visitor to perform absurd and harmful actions (to mess up the house, bring dirty water, etc.). The visitor does the opposite of what is asked (cleans the house, brings clean water) and is rewarded. The other character does everything literally and is punished. |
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
39 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 39 traditions: Malagasy, Biu-Mandara: Margi, Kilba, Bura, Kera, Karekare (Kerri-Kerri), Bachama, Zulgo, Giziga, Hdi, Kapsiki, Mandara (incl Mukulehe, Matakam), Mofu (Mofu-Gudur), Somrai (Sibine, Shibha), Yoruba; incl Ife), Nupe, Bini (Edo), Engenni, Chamba, Dakka, Kukuruku, Kru: Kru proper, Sapo (Sapã), Grebo, Kran (Krahn, Guere-Krahn; incl. Putu, Tchien), Bete, Neyo, Wobe, Devoin (Dey), Belle (Kuwaa), Bassa, Sikon, Ewe, Tuareg, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Santali, Turi, Mahli, Sinhalese; Vedda, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Ossetians, Kumyk, Terekemen, Tats, Georgians, Armenians, Gagauz, Kazan (Middle Volga) Tatars, Bashkirs, Mari (Cheremis), Chuvash, Udmurt, Komi (Zyrians and Permyaks), Daur (Daghur), Tepehua, Totonac, Gulf Nahuatl, Chinantec, Mazatec, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Yaruro, Harákmbet (=Mashco), Chacobo, Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Ayoreo, Chamacoco (Ishir), Mataco, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Toba (incl Pilagá), China
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