Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I28 — Animals underground, F127.

181 Myths, legends and folktales

181 Unique narratives for motif I28

38 Cultures & traditions where I28 is told

1 Sub-motifs of motif I28

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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

Wild or domestic animals live inside a mountain, in a cave or in the underground world, or once came out of there into our world; often animals take on human form underground and have an owner. See motif H18.

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

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.

I28 has 1 other sub-motifs

I28. Wild or domestic animals live inside a mountain, in a cave or in the underground world, or once came out of there into our world; often animals take on human form underground and have an owner. See motif H18.
I28a. Large animals that are hunted go underground and cause earthquakes.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of I28’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
L5C	94.30%	The monster head pursues celestial bodies, people, or attaches itself to someone else's body. See motif L5.
C34	93.86%	The flood begins after people kill (harm, maim) some kind of creature (usually aquatic).
K10	93.07%	A monstrous bird (bat) attacks people, heroes engage in battle with it. See motifs K10A – K10G.
E23	92.79%	A handful of fleas or lice must be thrown at the character; only this will make him or her move, which is necessary for revival or for the existence of people.
M8A	92.73%	Animals, and more often birds, find it difficult to break through a rock from the outside or inside, make a hole in the tree, in the body of an absorber creature, tear fetters, etc., to help a character or get out of the confined space by yourself. The list <b><i>includes</i></b> groups whose texts deal with the exit of the first ancestors to earth from a confined space.
B29	92.63%	People turn into animals, birds or stones, living beings acquire their current characteristics at a general meeting, festival, after a festival, after performing a ritual or after defeating a common enemy.
L70	92.48%	The character is killed or maimed by an object dropped from above, the fall of which he expects, but has a false idea of its nature or weight (fruit, piece of bark, turtle, log, etc.).
L48	92.27%	The hero (usually somewhere on high ground - on a tree, rock, at the edge of a precipice or well) kills and/or throws one of his opponents down from there. The other opponents do not recognise their comrade and believe that the slain man is the hero they are pursuing.
H12	91.50%	The living visit the afterlife to bring back the dead (except for texts about a shaman bringing back the soul of a sick person), or, without a specific goal, go there accompanied by or following in the footsteps of the recently deceased.
I17	90.91%	Creatures without mouths, anuses, or genitals, unable to give birth, live underground, in the sky, across the sea, or in certain areas. (Traditions describing women unable to give birth are marked with an asterisk*).

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

38 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 38 traditions: Kabylia and other Berber of Northern and Central Algeria: Beni Snous, Beni Menacer (incl Zuav), Shaui, etc.), Oromo (Galla), Konso, Sidamo, Darasa, Bussa (Bassa), Kambata, Guji, Yao, Makua, Kikuyu, Chuka, Embu, Emberre, Mwimbe, Kamba, Tharaka, Sakata, Herero (Herrero), Kosa (Xosa, Xhosa), Tswana (Chwana), Suto (Soto; incl Pedi, Mbire), Khoekhoe (=Hottentot; incl Nama, Korana); Damara, Sandawe, Papua-NewGuinea Highland Papuans:Trans New Guinea & unclassified:Chimbu,Gimi,KaugelHuli,Gadsup,Kuman,Kutubu,Foi (Foe),Kyaka,Kamano (Kafe),Mawatta,Kukukuku (=Anga,=Sambia;Manki,Nauti,Ejuti),Baruya,Kewa,Tembregak,Menya,Melpa,Wiru,Pondoma, Sepik-Ramu stock: Abelam, Yatmul, Aibom, Ayom (incl Tembregak, Asai-river pygmies), Tangu, Porapora (Ambakich), Rao and other groups of Middle Ramu and Upper Keram River tribes; Kwanga, Watam, Kaian, Gamei, Awar; Kire (Lower Ramu), Bugi, Macassar, Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), 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, Toda, Kota, Kuruba (Kurumba), Badaga, Maravar, Pulaya, Kadar, Dhanwar, Lepcha, Basques, Western Sami, Eastern Sami (including Skolts), Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Lkungen (Straits; including Samish, Songish, Sooke, Lummi), Klallam, Nez Perce, Kutenai, Upland Yuma: Walapai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec, Tepehua, Totonac, Guajiro, Witoto, Ocaina, Xipaya, Piro (Yine), Caraja, Botocudo, Papua-New Guinea Northern Lowland Papuan groups (Trans New Guinea and unclassified): Komba, Gimi, Susure, Orokaiva, Bogadjim, Ngain, Sentani, Bargam, Imonda, Nankina, Yupta Valley, Urawa Valley, Warupu (Barupu), Pondoma (Anam), Greenland

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