Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

L13 — The raised monster.

108 Myths, legends and folktales

108 Unique narratives for motif L13

65 Cultures & traditions where L13 is told

0 Sub-motifs of motif L13

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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

People feed a dangerous creature, or it grows on its own in a man-made enclosure. Once it becomes big and strong, it starts to destroy people.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
L14	97.19%	People bring a small creature (usually a worm or reptile) into their home and raise it, or it settles into a man-made dwelling on its own. The creature turns into something terrifying or magnificent. See motif L13 (raised monster attacks people).
F16	95.73%	Men possessed biological characteristics that are now characteristic of women, or vice versa (beards, menstruation, breasts, childbearing).
B2E	94.16%	The Earth or the world as a whole is a male character (alone or alongside a female character).
I108	93.45%	The Pleiades are a single character, not a group of people.
I16	93.41%	Early humans have no mouth, anus, or genitals, and their women are unable to give birth.
I8G	93.25%	A single giant holds up the earth or the sky.
A3	93.21%	The Moon is female or hermaphroditic, the Sun is male or, possibly, male.
F30	93.19%	A girl or woman takes a snake, eel, moray eel, lizard or worm as a lover or spouse. People kill or maim the lover, the woman and/or their offspring, or she herself turns into a snake. Cf. motif K76B (the snake-husband becomes and remains a handsome man). See motif F29.
A14	92.24%	The meeting of the sun and the moon is the cause of eclipses or lunar phases.
J21	92.05%	Gods, ancestors of humans, and founders of dynasties are born from eggs.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

65 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 65 traditions: Malagasy, Ganda, (Ba)Nyoro, Nyankole, Masaba (Gisu), Luia (=Luyia, Haya, Luhya, Bantu Kawirondo; incl. Vugusu, Maragoli), Zulu, Swazi, Mandingo (Manden, incl San, Samo), Kagoro, Bambara (Bamana), Malinke, Kassonke, Diula, Dan (=Gio), Guro (=Kweni, incl Gagu, Neio), Toura, Mano, Ngere, Beng, Guro , Trans-New Guinea and unclassified Papuan groups of Irian Jaya: Mejprat, Arandai-Bintuni, Inanwatan-Berau, Papua of Gelvink (Cenderawasih) Bay, Kamoró, Marind Anim, Sawi, Mafore; Korowai; Kwerba; Momina, Eipo, Yale, Awyu, Melanesians and Papuans of Central Solomons: Vella la Vella (Bilua language), Shortland islands (Mono language), San Cristobal, Saint Georgia, Eddystone, Vangunu, Southern Solomons: southern part of Santa Ysabel (Bughotu), Guadalcanal, San Cristobal, Malaita, Ulawa, Samoa, Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni, Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Bidayuh (incl. Maloh), Iban (Sea Dayak), Sakarram; Brunei, Northern Luzon: Apayao, Bontoc, Nabaloi (Ibaloi), Ifugao, Igorot (highland people, not specified), Ilocan, Ilongot, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanay, Tingian (Tinggian, Bilongan Itneg); Ibanag, Kasiguran Agta, Keley-i Kallahan, Burmese, Intha, Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Katu (Ködu); Bru (incl. Van Kieu, Khua), Khasi, England, British, Bretons, Portuguese, Portugal, Aragon, Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia), Persians, Tats, Armenians, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Haida, Tsimshian, Lenape (Delaware), Huron (incl Wyandot), Five Nations Iroquois (Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga), Karok, Yurok, Mono (Monache), Gulf Nahuatl, Rama, Guatuso, Bribri, Cabecar, Terraba; Chiriqui (AD 800-1500) iconography, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Paez, Guambia, Pijao; Ilama culture, Yupa (Yukpa), Guajiro, Makiritare (Yecuana), Yanomamo (Yanoama): Yanomam, Yanomami, Wapishana (incl Ataroi); Mapidian; Taruma, Waiwai, Kaxuyana (Warikyana, Arikena), Hixkariyana, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Aguaruna, Huambiza, Chayahuita , Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Ashaninca (Campa), Machiguenga, Moseten, Chimane, Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Kamayura, Paresi, Cayapo (incl. Kubenkranken, Pau d’Arco, Shikrin or Xikrin), Lisu, Lolo (incl. Bai), Achang, Yi, Axi, Nasu, Jino, Taungyo, Icelanders, China

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