Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I115A — Orion and the Pleiades – men and women.

54 Myths, legends and folktales

54 Unique narratives for motif I115A

35 Cultures & traditions where I115A is told

2 Sub-motifs of motif I115A

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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

In the same narrative or ritual context, Orion and the Pleiades are contrasted with each other as a man or men and a woman or women. (Orion is usually associated with the masculine principle, and the Pleiades with the feminine; among the Mentawai, d'Antracast, and Toba peoples, the opposite is true (due to regional influences? In Indonesia and eastern South America, the Pleiades are usually a group of young men).

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations.

I11 has 2 other sub-motifs

I11.  The turtle (toad, frog) serves as a support (embodiment) of the earth (sky), or the supports of the sky are made from its body.
I11a.  Describes how, in the process of creation, the earth is placed on the back of a turtle or frog, which becomes its support.
I11b.  The pillars of the sky are made from the legs of a four-legged animal (usually a turtle).

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of I11’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
H5	91.91%	Reptiles or invertebrates possess a life-giving agent; they are contrasted with humans as immortal mortals and/or responsible for the fact that humans die and are not reborn; the dead turn into snakes. See motif H4. (The first death comes from a snake bite (centipede), but snakes are not opposed to humans as immortals to mortals.)
J47	91.43%	A character climbs up to the sky using a rope, ladder, etc., or climbs a tree or rock, or descends from the sky to the ground, or rises to the ground from the underworld. Another character climbs after them, but the rope or ladder breaks or is cut, and the character falls.
B77	91.42%	The sky was close to the ground, then rose.
F76	90.07%	People learn how to make love by watching birds, fish or animals mating; animals teach people how to make love or arouse desire in them.
F45	89.62%	There are or were settlements where only women lived or live (cf. motifs F8, F45C).
H4	89.56%	Those who change their skin (bark, clothing) are immortal (forever young). (Cf. motif K56a5a: Skinning oneself to become young: To become a young beauty, an old or ugly woman asks to have her skin skinned off).
K27N3B	89.33%	The character who gives the hero or heroine difficult tasks or subjects them to trials lives in the sky, but is not associated with the sun, moon, thunder or wind. See motif K27.
I72A	88.97%	Stars – children of the moon and/or sun.
H34G	88.45%	One grain was enough to prepare a meal.
I108	87.44%	The Pleiades are a single character, not a group of people.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

35 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 35 traditions: Dinka, Atuot, Nuer, Banda, Gbaya (Baya), Manja, Ngbandi, Mbum (incl Mbaye), Fali; Mündü, Geez, Tigrai, Tigre, Masai, Kete, Luba-Kasai, Bena (Bene) Lulua; (Bena-)Kanioka, Tuareg, Khoekhoe (=Hottentot; incl Nama, Korana); Damara, Sandawe, Southeast Australia: Kamilaroi, Yualarai (Ualarai, Euahlayi), Milpulo (Mailpurgu), Wuradjeri (Wiradjurim, Wiradjeri, Wurundjeri, Yarra, Yarra Yarra), Wongaibon (Wonghibon), Noongahburrah (Narran, Narran River), Kurnai, and many others (see file 0.doc), Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka), Central Australia: Kaitish, Warramunga, Arunta (Aranda), Loritja (Kukatja), Pijandjara (Pitjantjara), Adnjamatana (Andjamathana, Wailpi), Aluridja, Walpiri (Walbiri), Aluridja, Matuntara (Maduntara), Nambutji, Wamma (=Wommana?), Trans-New Guinea and unclassified Papuan groups of Irian Jaya: Mejprat, Arandai-Bintuni, Inanwatan-Berau, Papua of Gelvink (Cenderawasih) Bay, Kamoró, Marind Anim, Sawi, Mafore; Korowai; Kwerba; Momina, Eipo, Yale, Awyu, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Batak (Toba, Dairi), Mentawai, Karen, Pa-O, Padaung, Kayah, SW Arunachal Pradesh: Sherdukpen, Tawang (Monpas), Aka (Hrusso), Miji, Bengali, Ancient Greece, Eastern Khanty (Ostyaks), Ainu, Negidal, Reindeer Koryak, Maritime Koryak (Alyutor), Chukchi, Polar Inuit, Osage, Yokuts, Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Navajo, Panare (Eñape), Locono, Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Toba (incl Pilagá), Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal)

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