Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
I8C — Suspended 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 earth is prevented from falling or swaying because it is tied with ropes.
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.
I8 has 10 other sub-motifs
RelatedI8A. The world, earth or sky are supported by anthropomorphic beings.
I8B. The earth or sky is supported by zoomorphic creatures.
I8c. The earth is prevented from falling or swaying because it is tied with ropes.
I8D. The earth or sky is supported by mountains, pillars, nails, trees.
I8e. The sky or the earth is supported by four anthropomorphic male characters located at the four cardinal points.
I8e1. The sky or earth is supported by four objects or beings located at the four cardinal points (either four groups of beings, or four at the corners and a fifth in the centre). Th A841. See motifs 8A, 8D.
I8f. The sky, the world rests on a single object (a pillar or tree).
I8g. A single giant holds up the earth or the sky.
I8G1. At the foot of the world pillar is an anthropomorphic character, or a character identified with a tree or pillar on which the world rests, or a character holding ropes on which the world is suspended.
I8h. The earth is supported by a man and a woman in the underworld.
I8i. Initially, the earth rocks, unstable, and must be specially secured.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| B5A | 93.25% | At the beginning of time, female and male characters meet and engage in dialogue. |
| F9A | 92.61% | There are teeth, blades or sharp stones in a woman's vagina or on the inside of her thighs; the vagina is a toothy mouth. (Only texts with a focus on authenticity are taken into account, not anecdotes). |
| K27C | 92.20% | Test: to remain alive when coming into contact with piercing, cutting, or crushing instruments. See motif K27. |
| I13A | 91.90% | A huge aquatic or celestial serpent, dragon, or snake-like creature with horns on its head. |
| L87 | 91.46% | A character accidentally tastes blood or human flesh, after which he devours himself and/or others. |
| F10 | 91.43% | A woman has a second mouth (usually in her vagina) with sharp teeth. A man inserts or throws a stone, bone, stick, etc. into this mouth, knocking out the teeth or extracting toothy animals from it in this way. |
| H2 | 90.92% | Animals ask God to make humans (tigers: domestic animals) mortal or otherwise reduce their numbers, as they fear that humans will trample them, deprive them of food or habitat, force them to work, etc. |
| C6A | 90.82% | A turtle or toad (frog) brings a desired object from the bottom or from the underworld. |
| G2 | 89.79% | A character embodying fertility and life, who first disappears and then (periodically) returns. |
| K23 | 89.31% | Birds attack inhabitants of another world or a person who has entered another world. See motif K22. |
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
32 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 32 traditions: Akkad, Assyria, Babylonia, Southeast Australia: Kamilaroi, Yualarai (Ualarai, Euahlayi), Milpulo (Mailpurgu), Wuradjeri (Wiradjurim, Wiradjeri, Wurundjeri, Yarra, Yarra Yarra), Wongaibon (Wonghibon), Noongahburrah (Narran, Narran River), Kurnai, and many others (see file 0.doc), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan, Semang, Senoi, Garo (Atchik), Kachari (Bodo, incl. Lalung), Dimasa, Tripuri, Riang (of Tripura), Khami, Riga, Mori, Poles, Estonians, Western Ukrainians, Mansi, Eastern Khanty (Ostyaks), Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians, Kets, Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Yuchi, Kiowa Apache, Cherokee, Yuki (Yuki proper, Coastal Yuki, Huchnob), Maidu, Nisenan, Konkov, Owens Valley Paiute, Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Southern Paiute, Western Apache (White Mountain, San Carlos), Pima, Papago, Lacandon, Muisca, Muzo, Paresi, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians
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