Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
A32L — Silhouette in 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
OverviewThe silhouette of a certain character is visible on the solar disc. Or it is said that the character fell into the sun and remained there.
Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations.
A32 has 19 other sub-motifs
RelatedA32. A figure or imprint of some creature or object is visible on the lunar disc. Statistical calculations also include motifs A32A â A32J (a rabbit, frog, predatory animal, human, tree, etc. are visible on the moon).
A32a. The figure or imprint of a rabbit or hare is visible on the lunar disc.
A32b. The figure or imprint of a toad or frog is visible on the lunar disc; the moon is associated with this animal.
A32b1. A woman sits (jumps) on the face (back) of the Moon Man and is now visible in the silhouette of the moon spots.
A32c. The figures of a man and a dog are visible (or should have been visible) on the lunar disc.
A32c1. The figure or imprint of a predatory mammal (fox, wolf, dog, coyote, jaguar, lion) is visible on the lunar disc. Either this animal is associated with the moon, belongs to it. See motif A34.
A32d. The figure or imprint of an anthropomorphic creature is visible on the lunar disc.
A32d1. Cain and Abel are associated with the moon, usually distinguishable (both or only Cain) in the silhouette of lunar spots.
A32d2. A man with a pitchfork in his hands can be seen in the silhouette of the moon's spots.
A32dd. The lunar disc shows the figure or imprint of an anthropomorphic character carrying a bundle of wood or brushwood.
A32de. A headless man is visible on the lunar disc.
A32e. On the lunar (rarely: solar) disc, a character holding an object or animal is visible. See motif A32D.
A32f. On the lunar disc, a character is visible who has gone to fetch water and/or is holding a vessel for liquid in his hands. See motif A32D.
A32g. On the lunar disc, a character can be seen holding onto a tree or bush and ending up on the moon with them. See motif A32D.
A32h. A tree, bush, branch, snag, etc. are visible on the lunar disc. See motif A32G.
A32i. A shepherd (shepherd and girl, shepherd and his flock, dogs) can be seen on the lunar disc.
A32j. A shaman with a tambourine ascends to the moon and remains there, visible in the silhouette of the lunar spots.
A32k. A character, discernible in the silhouette of the moon's spots, first headed for the sun and only then reached the moon, or the Sun and the Moon argued over who he should belong to.
A32l. The silhouette of a certain character is visible on the solar disc. Or it is said that the character fell into the sun and remained there.
A32m. The moon is called the "Gypsy sun".
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| L16B | 93.75% | The eyes or mouths of creatures are located on joints (knees, etc.). |
| K56AA | 90.45% | Two or three sisters successively become the dog's brides. The first or the first two act incorrectly, perish or fail to achieve their goal. The last one acts correctly and succeeds. |
| A32C | 90.37% | The figures of a man and a dog are visible (or should have been visible) on the lunar disc. |
| B46D | 89.80% | Men, each of whom excels others in a particular art, turn into stars. |
| M196A | 88.57% | Arguing over a trivial matter, a husband and wife (or one of them) lie down and do not move, and people gather to bury them. At the last moment, the supposed dead person opens their mouth, and people think that the dead have come back to life; or the supposed dead person is actually buried in the ground. |
| K167 | 88.25% | A boy plays, pretending to be a king and demonstrating wisdom and/or magical abilities. |
| L1C2 | 87.50% | Fleeing from a demonic creature, the characters hide their children (younger brother or sister) in a camouflaged pit, usually under the hearth. See motif L1C. |
| K73A6 | 87.32% | Malicious women kill (throw away) her wonderful children. Trees (flowers) grow from their remains, later reincarnating into humans. |
| M198B4 | 87.32% | The fake fortune teller, expecting to be exposed, utters words that reflect his state of mind. The thieves standing nearby perceive some of the words as their names, believe that the fortune teller has found out about them, and ask him not to reveal them. |
| M204A | 86.96% | Gold is placed in a person's path so that they can take advantage of it. At that moment, the person accidentally closes their eyes and walks past. |
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
10 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 10 traditions: Akkad, Assyria, Babylonia, Viet, Muong, England, British, Bretons, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Uyghur, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Tillamook, China
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