Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I46C — Rainbow rope.

12 Myths, legends and folktales
12 Unique narratives for motif I46C
8 Cultures & traditions where I46C is told
5 Sub-motifs of motif I46C
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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

The rainbow is a rope to which cattle are tied.

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

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.

I46 has 5 other sub-motifs

Related

I46.  Rainbow – an ornamented part of clothing, bright fabric, decoration, belt.
I46a.  The rainbow is associated with a woman, usually an elderly one.
I46b.  The colour of the rainbow can be used to predict the harvest of individual crops.
I46c.  The rainbow is a rope to which cattle are tied.
I46d.  Rainbow – a hunting loop, a trap.
I46e.  Rainbow - sword, cutting weapon.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of I46’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny
MotifSimilarityMotif summary
K76F99.09%A young man with the appearance of a calf marries and then turns into a handsome man.
L37B297.98%From the conversation of snakes or crows, a person learns the cause of another's illness: a snake has crawled inside him. The person expels the snake and the sick person recovers.
K9097.88%A person sees two opposing monsters or animals (usually of contrasting colours: red and black, black and white) and helps one of them, or one of the combatants helps the person. (Cf. ATU 156B, 738).
M78F97.78%When a woman falls asleep, a joker (usually a tiny boy) places an embryo or the entrails of an animal or something similar next to her to make the woman herself or others think she has a miscarriage or that her viscera has fallen out.
N28D97.59%In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a lid or covering for the sea, ocean or river are mentioned
K61F96.61%Fearing her husband's wrath, a childless woman pretends to have given birth. Her husband believes that he has a daughter or son, and after some time marries her off (marries him off). During the wedding ceremony, a doll or animal is placed under the veil (in the palanquin), but at the last moment, a supernatural character transforms the supposed bride (groom) into a girl or boy.
N28C96.61%In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a pillar of the sky is mentioned
K27Z596.61%Two men agree to marry their children if one has a son and the other has a daughter. The girl's parents do not fulfil the agreement. The boy grows up and finds his betrothed.
I82H96.42%The name of Venus sounds like Cholpan, Cholbon, Tsolmon, etc. (čol- 'to sparkle, to shine' [VÑmbéri 1879: 155]).
H49D96.36%A character (usually a bird) brings a healing (rejuvenating) fruit (seed, branch). Accidentally or maliciously, poison gets into the fruit. The person whom the fruit-bearer wanted to help kills or is about to kill his benefactor, and then learns of his mistake.

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

8 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 8 traditions: Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Karachays, Balkar, Armenians, Kazakh, Kirghiz, Mongols (Khalkha), Forest (Upper Kolyma) Yukaghir, Arapaho

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