Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
A42 — Phaeton (imitator of the Sun), A724.I.I.
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 character comes to the Sun, tries to fulfil its role, but deliberately or through incompetence breaks the rules, usually causing disasters on earth.
Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.
A42 has 1 other sub-motifs
RelatedA42. The character comes to the Sun, tries to fulfil its role, but deliberately or through incompetence breaks the rules, usually causing disasters on earth.
A42a. Having risen into the sky, the character unsuccessfully performs the role of the sun and as a result falls or is thrown down to earth.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| F83 | 96.18% | The character does something forbidden and indecent in a place hidden from prying eyes, and then asks people what's new. They reply that there is no news â except that so-and-so (the character) did such-and-such. |
| B42P | 94.08% | The Big Dipper is identified with a bear. |
| B91A | 93.98% | A blind character asks another to lend him his eyes or to swap eyes, keeping his own eyes. |
| K93B5 | 93.91% | The character infiltrates the enemy camp disguised as a kitten or puppy. Usually, one of the enemies suspects deception, but the others believe that the cute animal is harmless. |
| H36J | 92.38% | The lark is to blame for the fact that man is mortal. |
| F63 | 91.97% | A male trickster transforms into a woman and gets married. In the end, he is exposed or runs away from his husband. |
| M81 | 91.40% | Wandering, the hero finds himself in a place where blind or blind (two or more) live. |
| C16 | 91.05% | Contrary to human desire, processed skins, tools, and (meat) food (again) turn into (those) animals (from whose body parts they were made). Cf. motif M84. |
| K23A | 90.37% | Birds use their feathers as arrows, or falling feathers cover the mouths of their victims. |
| M84 | 90.26% | A person, animal, fish, or (rarely) a large fruit is killed and eaten. After a meal, what is eaten revives, usually after the bones (seeds) are put together. Cf. motive C16. |
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
24 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 24 traditions: Ancient Italy: Latins, Etruscans, Magna Graecia, Ancient Greece, Western Sami, Eastern Sami (including Skolts), Western Ukrainians, Abkhaz, Abkhazians, Ingush, Mingrelians (Megrelians), Laz, Gagauz, Mansi, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Menominee, Mandan, Lkungen (Straits; including Samish, Songish, Sooke, Lummi), Klallam, Sechelt (incl Sisiatl), Squamish, Halcomelem, Chumash, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), Eastern Keres (Cochiti, Sia, San Felipe, Santo Domingo, Santa Ana, Paguate, Seama), Tewa (San Juan, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Tesuque, Nambe; Hano), Tiwa (Taos, Picuris; Sandia, Isleta), Towa (Jemez), Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians
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