Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
B87A — Alcor – dog.
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
OverviewA dim star next to the second star of the handle of the Big Dipper (Tibetans: Little Dipper) Ursa Major – dog.
Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations.
B87 has 4 other sub-motifs
RelatedB87. Alcor (a faint star next to the second star of the Big Dipper's handle) stands out as a separate celestial object.
B87a. A dim star next to the second star of the handle of the Big Dipper (Tibetans: Little Dipper) Ursa Major – dog.
B87b. The Great Bear – a cart harnessed by a wolf or bear. Usually, the shape of the handle of the dipper is explained by the fact that a wolf or bear attacked an ox harnessed to the cart and took its place. In this case, it is associated with Alcor or the last star of the handle of the dipper – η.
B87c. Alcor (the faint star next to the second star of the Big Dipper's handle) – rider, driver, coachman.
b87d. Alcor (a faint star next to the second star of the Big Dipper's handle) – infant.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| K22A | 97.44% | Birds or other creatures that are harmless to ordinary people attack dwarves living in another world. See motif K22. |
| K23 | 96.57% | Birds attack inhabitants of another world or a person who has entered another world. See motif K22. |
| C6A | 94.42% | A turtle or toad (frog) brings a desired object from the bottom or from the underworld. |
| L87 | 94.38% | A character accidentally tastes blood or human flesh, after which he devours himself and/or others. |
| K22 | 94.27% | The inhabitants of a distant land, who differ from (ordinary) people, occasionally fight off enemies of a non-human nature who attack them. |
| L1C1 | 93.05% | Fleeing from demonic characters, a group of men – relatives of a girl – ascend to the sky and remain there. See motif L1C. |
| B42P | 93.03% | The Big Dipper is identified with a bear. |
| K27M | 90.95% | Task: to kill and bring an animal of a certain (often unusual) colour or shape. See motif K27. |
| K35 | 90.82% | The deceiver pretends to be a hero in order to take his place (to possess his woman). (This motif includes all texts with motif K35a3). |
| B85A | 90.12% | The wind stops blowing (after blowing too strongly). A character approaches it and establishes the necessary balance. Since then, the wind blows, but usually not too strongly. |
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
23 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 23 traditions: Basques, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Vepsians, Western Ukrainians, Armenians, Mari (Cheremis), Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tungus (Evenki) of China (Solon, Birar, Oroqen, Manegir), Evenks, Tungus (Evenki): Russian Far East, Evenks, Udeghe, Oroch, Uilta (Orok), Lenape (Delaware), Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Crow, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Twana (Skokomish), Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians
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