Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
K85C — Four legs are faster than three.
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
OverviewA three-legged horse is strong and fast, but its four-legged brother is faster.
Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.
K85 has 5 other sub-motifs
RelatedK85. The antagonist owns the fastest horse. The hero obtains an even faster horse (usually the brother or sister of this horse), which is the only one that surpasses the antagonist's horse and usually orders the antagonist to throw off his rider.
K85a. When assessing the speed of a horse, the speed of thought (lightning, or something else) and wind are compared.
K85b. The three-legged horse is distinguished by its strength and speed, and is ridden by a rider of non-human nature.
K85c. A three-legged horse is strong and fast, but its four-legged brother is faster.
K85d. Covered with skins (coated with resin and sprinkled with sand, etc.), the mighty horse becomes invulnerable to the bites of other horses.
K85e. Magical horses live in water.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| M39A2B | 100.00% | After buying salt or sugar, a fool pours them into a pond to salt or sweeten the water. |
| B33E | 99.95% | The last cold month regrets that it did not come earlier or that it is too short. In that case, it would have frozen everyone. |
| F70E2 | 99.95% | The father sends his daughters or sons on a difficult task one by one. At the very beginning of the journey, their courage is put to the test. Only the youngest son or daughter passes the test. Usually, the father stands in their way, taking the form of an enemy or a predator, but only the youngest son or daughter bravely enters the fight. |
| I132A | 99.62% | A girl sits on a swing and it lifts her up to the sky. |
| K85B | 99.56% | The three-legged horse is distinguished by its strength and speed, and is ridden by a rider of non-human nature. |
| L81C | 99.52% | The legless man lives together with the blind and armless man (or with one of the two). By working together, they are healed. |
| L96A | 99.46% | A person sighs, after which a character named Oh, Uh, Hey-way, etc. appears. |
| B32A | 99.39% | The enemies of a hero sailing the sea turn into seals or dolphins. |
| I137 | 99.39% | One of the constellations is associated with footwear, usually with (worn-out) bast shoes. |
| I95B | 99.39% | Orion is a yoke. |
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
12 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 12 traditions: Western Ukrainians, Karachays, Balkar, Ingush, Avar, Andi, Akhvakh, Nogai, Georgians, Crimean Tatars, Karaims, Bashkirs, Mari (Cheremis), Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Bosnians
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