Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
N28F — The water has no knots
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
OverviewIt is said that water has no boughs or twigs
Berezkin category: Fabulous and epic formulas
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 13, Formulae.
N28 has 7 other sub-motifs
RelatedN28a. The roots (belt) of mountains or stones are mentioned in myths, riddles, spells, and songs as something that does not really exist.
N28b. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a ladder or stairway to the sky (variant: a ladder in the sky) is mentioned
N28c. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a pillar of the sky is mentioned
N28d. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a lid or covering for the sea, ocean or river are mentioned
N28e. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a bridge across the sea, ocean or lake is mentioned
N28f. It is said that water has no boughs or twigs
N28g. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a gall of horse or ass is mentioned
N28h. In a list of things that do not exist in the world, horns of the horse are mentioned
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| B32A | 100.00% | The enemies of a hero sailing the sea turn into seals or dolphins. |
| I137 | 100.00% | One of the constellations is associated with footwear, usually with (worn-out) bast shoes. |
| I95B | 100.00% | Orion is a yoke. |
| K35A7 | 100.00% | A character finds a feather, the touch of which brings health and beauty. |
| K38F3 | 100.00% | To kill the dragon, the hero digs a pit and hides in it. When the dragon crawls nearby or over the pit, the hero strikes it with a fatal blow of his sword. |
| M39A2A | 100.00% | fool buys spoons and/or a table, tells the table to go on its own feet, throws away spoons because they rattle. The two episodes are usually combined. |
| M39A3B | 100.00% | fool decides that stumps need hats, puts pots on the stumps. |
| N31 | 100.00% | Late autumn and then winter sets in line with the departure of two or three species of birds flying in a wedge (Zugvogel). |
| N32 | 100.00% | The ornithomorphic character is said to be sitting on several trees. |
| I95 | 99.76% | The Pleiades are a sieve or riddle for sifting agricultural products. See motif I95. |
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
4 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 4 traditions: Estonians, Karelians, Mari (Cheremis), Chuvash
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