Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
A22C — Sacrifice to the Sun.
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
OverviewIn order for the sun to rise, move to the right distance from the earth, or follow its heavenly path, a human being must be sacrificed.
Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.
A22 has 4 other sub-motifs
RelatedA22. One or two people fall into fire or boiling water and ascend to the sky, turning into the sun and/or the moon.
A22a. Two characters burn; one turns into the present sun, and the other into a less significant celestial object. See motif A22.
A22b. The sun and its companion burn up. The companion burns in a less intense fire (is thrown into the ashes, etc.); therefore, the moon (or star) is cold. See motif A22.
A22c. In order for the sun to rise, move to the right distance from the earth, or follow its heavenly path, a human being must be sacrificed.
A22d. The burned character turns into a constellation or a dark spot on the Milky Way.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| A23 | 98.44% | The first ancestors come together to choose who will become the sun, to raise the sun to the sky, to see the sun rise for the first time, and to name the sun correctly. See motif A22. |
| K16A | 97.68% | In an effort to show that he is a good hunter, a man regularly walks in front of a girl, pretending to carry prey. Once he slips, and the imaginary prey turns out to be a scarecrow stuffed with ashes or a bundle of termites. |
| J33 | 97.06% | A boy, a young man, or two children live in the house of an older character. In order to elicit a certain reaction from him, they kill a person or a large animal, stuff the scarecrow with insects, worms, ashes, grass, or inflate it. |
| D4G | 95.59% | Hummingbird steals, finds or spreads fire. See motif D4A. |
| I75 | 95.26% | Before the emergence of the present world or present humans, there were others (at least two worlds or races). |
| C22 | 94.50% | During a severe drought or global fire, birds and animals are sent to the thunder gods living at the edge of the world to bring rain. The last of those sent achieves the goal. The toad plays an important role in the action. |
| L58 | 94.49% | A man refuses to give food to his closest relatives or spouse; as punishment, he or his food changes its nature. |
| I7A | 94.14% | Lightning is associated with a snake. |
| D4D | 93.47% | The opossum obtains fire for humans. See motif D4A. |
| B14 | 93.28% | In order to regulate the flow of the river in a certain way, the character creates rapids and waterfalls. |
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
18 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 18 traditions: Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Eastern Arunachal Pradesh: Abor (incl Minyong, Shimong, Padam, Pasi, Panggi), Apa Tani (Apatani), Bori, Bugun, Dafla (=Nyishi, Nisi, Nishing, incl Tagin), Gallong (=Galo, Adi), Mishmi, Kuki, Chiru, Falam (Hallam), Chin (Meitei =Manipuri, Khami, =Kumi), Lakher, Mizo (Lushei), Anal, Pawi (Lai), Purum, Koireng, Milhiem, Kolhen, Mru, Oraon (Kurukh), Cherokee, Pomo, Chumash, Navajo, Jicarilla, Hopi, Tewa (San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe; Hano), Tiwa (Taos, Picuris; Sandia, Isleta), Towa (Jemez), Huichol, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Pame, Jonaz (Chichimeca-Jonaz), Mazahua, Otomi, Tepehua, Totonac, Huastec (Teenek), Gulf Nahuatl
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