Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
I41C — Celestial object – reflection of a snake.
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
OverviewRainbow or Milky Way – reflection of a snake (fish) on land or in the sea.
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.
I41 has 5 other sub-motifs
RelatedI41. A rainbow is a reptile (usually a snake), less often a fish or snake-like, usually dangerous, object (snake tongue, scorpion tail).
I41a. A rainbow rises from an anthill or termite mound.
I41b. The rainbow drinks (draws into itself) water (and living creatures).
I41b1. The rainbow drinks, swallowing fish, people, etc. along with the water. Sometimes this fish falls from the sky to the ground.
i41b2. A rainbow emerges from the mouth of a reptile, amphibian or invertebrate animal.
I41c. Rainbow or Milky Way – reflection of a snake (fish) on land or in the sea.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| M29V | 96.20% | The character defeats or deceives strong opponents using cunning. The protagonists are dwarf ungulates, usually duker or deer - taxonomically distant from each other, but similar in appearance. In some publications on African traditions, it is difficult to determine which animal we are talking about, but it is certain that these are small cloven-hoofed animals, usually (always?) dukers. See the motives in square brackets. |
| L106 | 95.52% | A person takes an object belonging to another and loses it; the owner demands that the object be returned; the hero goes after it (to another world), usually finds it and brings back what was lost. See motifs K56a3 and L105. |
| B77B1 | 94.97% | The sky receded and/or the connection between humans and the deity ceased after the sky or the heavenly deity was touched or struck during work with a pestle used to pound in a mortar or with a spoon used to stir porridge (Ewe, Nubians, Nyiman). |
| I119 | 94.60% | Earthquakes are caused by inhabitants of the underworld; during earthquakes, they try to get to the surface of the earth to check whether people are still alive. |
| H36H | 92.92% | Creatures, including a frog or toad, must cross an obstacle. This does not go as planned and results in humans becoming mortal. |
| D4E1 | 92.55% | The thief or giver of fire, light or sun is the dog. See motif 4A. |
| M105A | 91.41% | A character hides his children, but tells another that he has killed them. The other believes him and kills his own children. See motif M104. |
| L42H | 91.29% | A cannibal catches the hero and invites other cannibals to a feast. The hero escapes, and the cannibals eat the one who invited them. |
| K61B | 91.11% | In order to learn the names of strangers, the character finds or creates a situation in which they call each other by name aloud. |
| A36 | 90.56% | The moon (month) is contrasted with humans as immortal to mortals; it decides whether humans will be mortal; those who live on the moon are immortal. (Cf. Latvians, Dolgans). |
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
6 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 6 traditions: Zande (Azande, incl Nzakara), Kikuyu, Chuka, Embu, Emberre, Mwimbe, Ewe, Simeulue, Nias, Semang, Senoi, Meo (Hmong) of Thailand, Laos and Northern Vietnam
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