Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

B18 — Light in a vessel, A1411.1.

65 Myths, legends and folktales
65 Unique narratives for motif B18
46 Cultures & traditions where B18 is told
0 Sub-motifs of motif B18
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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

Overview

Daylight, warmth, sun or moon are stored in a vessel, under a vessel, under a cover, in a bag, etc.

Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 3, Cosmogony, the earth and the sky, etiology of the elements, natural and biological phenomena (fire, water, soil, thunderstorms, dream, etc.), cataclysms and cosmic threats, spirits of nature.

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny
MotifSimilarityMotif summary
M18B96.23%The character turns into a fishing object in order to carry away the hook with which he is caught or the spear with which they try to harpoon him, or he turns into a hook to catch fish. See motif M18.
L6193.60%The character eats himself, guts himself, or kills himself in order to be eaten.
M3291.36%The character swallows food or water, or his own entrails, pieces of flesh flow out and fall out of his ass.
B5191.24%Thanks to a deliberate lie, Thunder did not learn from the bloodsucking insect that it had drunk human blood.
K22C91.13%Inhabitants of another world who are birds (bird-people) are afraid of birds or animals that are not dangerous to ordinary people, but which regularly attack them.
D990.67%The raven or other large dark-coloured bird of prey is the owner, embodiment, spouse, provider or thief of fire, the sun or daylight.
M8790.64%The character comes to a place that is abandoned or seems to have been abandoned by the inhabitants. He tries to take or touch things, but invisible owners prevent him from doing so, or the things themselves hurt him.
M1690.12%The wife or relatives (often the mother) of the sick person do not care for him. He recovers, and those who treated him badly are punished. Cf. motifs F62 and F96.
M1989.97%The character ties another person (usually a child) to the end of a line, using them as bait or forcing them to catch fish with their hands.
I189.74%Creatures that cause or embody rain and/or thunderstorms are birds or winged anthropomorphic characters. {Traditions in which birds are associated with thunderstorms and rain, but Thunder itself is not a bird, are marked with an asterisk (*).

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

46 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 46 traditions: Kerewe, Sukuma, Kwaya, Kumbi, Busiba, Gusii, Suba, Bemba (Wemba, Babemba; incl Ambo, Lala, Lamba, Bisa), Holoholo, Kaonde, Mongo (Mongo-Nkundu), Nkundu, Ngelima, Ngombe, (Ba)Tetela), Pende, Wu(Kusu), (Ba)Mbala (incl Saie, Kwilu), Ifaluk, Woleai, Lamutrek, Faraulip Satawal, Elato, Western Fayu, Bashkirs, Chukchi, Central Yupik, Chugach, Dogrib, Slavey, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Tahltan, Athna, Koyukon, Gwich'in (Kuchin, Loucheux), North Alaskan Inupiat, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Heiltsuk (Bellabella), Oowekeeno, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Quileute, Chemakum (Hoh), Karok, Yurok, Wailaki, Mattole, Lassik, Sinkyone, Cahto, Pomo, Wintu, Patwin, Nomlaki, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Yanomamo (Yanoama): Yanomam, Yanomami, Warao, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Locono, Cubeo, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Sharanahua, Yaminahua, Yawanahua, Capanahua), Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Mundurucu, Curuaia, Bakairi, Iranxe, Nambikwara, Tapirape, Mapuche, Halkomelem (Snaymuk)

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