Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I114 — The Golden Fleece.

19 Myths, legends and folktales
19 Unique narratives for motif I114
11 Cultures & traditions where I114 is told
2 Sub-motifs of motif I114
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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

Describes a ram or sheep with golden wool or the skin of such a ram.

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 8, Queer and monstrous beings, creatures, objects and loci, folk beliefs related to particular phenomena and objects.

I11 has 2 other sub-motifs

Related

I11.  The turtle (toad, frog) serves as a support (embodiment) of the earth (sky), or the supports of the sky are made from its body.
I11a.  Describes how, in the process of creation, the earth is placed on the back of a turtle or frog, which becomes its support.
I11b.  The pillars of the sky are made from the legs of a four-legged animal (usually a turtle).

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of I11’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny
MotifSimilarityMotif summary
B33E1100.00%It is said that the cold, which is stronger than anything else, can freeze boiling water, a foetus in the womb, etc.
L73A100.00%The fugitives make sure that darkness spreads behind them, hindering their pursuers (while light pours in front of them).
M29Z299.99%Being smart and witty, the Gipsy overcomes strong adversaries
A32D199.99%Cain and Abel are associated with the moon, usually distinguishable (both or only Cain) in the silhouette of lunar spots.
B12299.98%Birds (cranes/storks, geese or crows) carry children away to another world or bring them back from there. See motif H6c3, "The Immortal Stork".
K61A199.98%A dangerous character mistakes two people sleeping (hiding) in a sack or two people lying with their feet towards each other for a single creature.
M39A5A399.97%Realizing that a wife telling the truth will cause trouble for the family, the husband says that the sounds she hears are the screams of her master (official, etc.) who is beaten, dragged to hell, etc. She repeats this to the master (official), who declares her insane.
B87B99.95%The Great Bear – a cart harnessed by a wolf or bear. Usually, the shape of the handle of the dipper is explained by the fact that a wolf or bear attacked an ox harnessed to the cart and took its place. In this case, it is associated with Alcor or the last star of the handle of the dipper – η.
M38E99.95%mushroom (pumpkin) thinks that it is as durable as a tree.
K38B3B99.93%A mighty bird (rarely – another creature) helps a person for sheltering (warming) its chicks (offspring, children).

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

11 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 11 traditions: Ancient Italy: Latins, Etruscans, Magna Graecia, Slovakians, Slovaks, Hungarians, Greeks (modern), Balkarians, Serbs, Monte Negro, Balkarians, Ancient Greece, Western Ukrainians, Georgians, Kalmyk, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians

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