Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I20C — Dwarves – inhabitants of the underworld.

65 Myths, legends and folktales

65 Unique narratives for motif I20C

42 Cultures & traditions where I20C is told

5 Sub-motifs of motif I20C

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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

Dwarves live in an underground world that partly resembles the earthly world. If dwarves and humans meet, it happens underground.

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.

I20 has 5 other sub-motifs

I20.  The inhabitants of the underworld or the land on the horizon where the sky meets the earth are dwarves. See motif I14A.
I20a.  Anthropomorphic inhabitants of the upper world – giants.
I20b.  People in the upper world are different from those on earth and gird themselves below or above the waist.
I20c.  Dwarves live in an underground world that partly resembles the earthly world. If dwarves and humans meet, it happens underground.
I20c1.  Dwarves do not live deep underground, but inside hills, in rocks, in mines, etc., and usually come out from there onto the ground.
I20c2.  The inhabitants of the land on the horizon (where the sky meets the earth) are dwarves.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of I20’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
I48	97.10%	The character is deprived of the ability to move, after which he acquires cosmic dimensions: he supports the earth (sky) or his movements cause earthquakes (less often - storms).
I85C1	94.34%	In the sky there is a vessel, a box or an indescribable container for storing rain (rain clouds).
M57B	94.24%	Beads or metals are the bodily secretions of a deity.
J21	94.10%	Gods, ancestors of humans, and founders of dynasties are born from eggs.
F6	93.57%	(The first) woman does not have a vagina at first. Usually, it is made for her by a bird, animal, fish, etc.
I3	93.34%	Lightning (and thunder) is produced by an object (sword, arrow, whip, mirror, etc.) in the hands of a character; lightning is an object.
G12A	93.23%	Cultivated plants arise from drops of blood or flow like blood from cuts on the body of a human or animal.
E1A	92.80%	The first humans are made of fragile materials (clay, wax, fire, honey, etc.) and prove to be unviable.
I14	92.36%	Creatures without an anal opening are described.
I80	92.19%	A character who finds himself in the locus of a deity responsible for atmospheric phenomena violates certain prohibitions or instructions, thereby causing excessively strong thunderstorms, rain, snowfall or wind.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

42 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 42 traditions: Berbers of Morocco and adjacent parts of Algeria, Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Melanesians of southeastern New Guinea: Mekeo, Motu, Sinagoro, Koita (Koitapu), Mukawa (Are), Wagawaga, Taupota, Awaiama, Gelaria, Goodenough Bay, Bartle Bay, Wedau (Wamira village), Mindanao and Sulu: Blaan (Bilaan), Bagobo, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Hiligáynon, Binukid, Magindaan (=Magindanao: main Muslim population), Mandaya, Mansaka, Manobo (Agusan, Ata, Dibabawon, Sarangani, Ilianen), Maranao, Samal, Subanon (=Subanun), Subanen, Tboli, Karen, Pa-O, Padaung, Kayah, Thai of Vietnam, Tai Lue, Khao (Kho, Tai Don, White Tai), Tai Dam (Black Tai), Nung; Zhuang, Buyi; Shui, Nicobarese, Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Greeks (modern), Balkarians, Estonians, Finns, Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia), Abkhaz, Abkhazians, Ingush, Nogai, Armenians, Udmurt, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Zuni, Warihio (Guarijío), Tarahumara, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Pame, Jonaz (Chichimeca-Jonaz), Mazahua, Otomi, Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec, Mestizos of Soconuzco; Cotzumapguapa iconography, Tepehua, Totonac, Tzotzil, Yupa (Yukpa), Guayabero, Sanema, Yanomamo (Yanoama): Yanomam, Yanomami, Waiwai, Locono, Colorado (Tsachila), Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Puinave, Ticuna (Tucuna), Kechua-speaking communities of Apurimac, Cuzco, Arequipa, Puno departments; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries; Callawaya (Kechua with Pukina substratum), Tacana, Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Lutsi (Ludza)

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