Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
M150 — The deceitful shepherd.
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
OverviewHaving taken on the task of herding a flock, the character eats the animals entrusted to him.
Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 11, Tricks and competitions won thanks to deception, absurd and obscene behavior.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| L126 | 97.89% | An anthropomorphic character cooks and eats a bird, but the bird cries out from inside his stomach and escapes. The character dies or suffers harm. Cf. motif K132. |
| L42B | 96.97% | After capturing the hero, the antagonist brings him home and leaves him in the care of a family member. The latter believes the hero's words and follows his instructions. See motif L42. |
| M38D | 95.38% | Two or more characters, which are small objects or small animals, live or travel together and die one by one while committing protozoa actions. |
| M91 | 94.71% | Pretending that the deceased has just been alive for a relatively long time, the character accuses others of his death, receives a ransom and gifts. |
| L42E | 94.25% | A demon catches the hero, carries him home, but the hero escapes on the way. The demon returns, catches the hero again, and this time brings him to his home. Or the demon catches and carries several children, but they escape on the way, leaving only one, whom the demon brings to his home. |
| K89D | 92.96% | Left alone in the house or finding herself in a stranger's house, a girl (less often a male character) hides by turning into a needle (a pin) or another tool for sewing or spinning. |
| L72A | 92.48% | Fleeing for his life, the character throws behind him a comb (brush), which turns into an obstacle (almost always thickets) in the path of his pursuer. (In South America, this motif is most likely of European origin). See Andreev 1929, No. 313.I. |
| I46 | 92.14% | Rainbow â an ornamented part of clothing, bright fabric, decoration, belt. |
| B109 | 91.67% | A man grows fur and becomes a bear (the origin of bears). |
| H16A | 91.62% | The narratives (in various contexts) mention rivers (lakes) of blood (as well as water used to wash the dead, pus, bones, sweat). Cf. motifs H16, K33F, N34. |
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
36 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 36 traditions: Mehri; Harsusi, Jibbali (Shahri, Shauri), Saho, Afar, Somali, Masai, Tswana (Chwana), Suto (Soto; incl Pedi, Mbire), Hausa, Chin-Naga: Ao, Mao, Sema, Zeme, Kolren, Kom, Lhota, Rengma, Angami, Kabui, Tangkhul, Koirenf, Spain, Spaniards, Hungarians, Latvians, Estonians, Setu, Western Sami, Eastern Sami (including Skolts), Norwegians, Wakhi, Ishkashimi (including Sanglich), Munji, Persians, Karachays, Balkar, Kurds, Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans, Khakas, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Western Tungus (Evenki), Western Siberia Tungus (Evenki): Sym River, Ket River, Nanai, Chukchi, Lkungen (Straits; including Samish, Songish, Sooke, Lummi), Klallam, Lutsi (Ludza), Ilimpii Tungus/Evenki, Yerbogachen Tungus/Evenki, Tungus/Evenki of Nercha - Chita area, Itelmen
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