Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I48 — Locked in the underworld.

86 Myths, legends and folktales

86 Unique narratives for motif I48

50 Cultures & traditions where I48 is told

1 Sub-motifs of motif I48

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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 character is deprived of the ability to move, after which he acquires cosmic dimensions: he supports the earth (sky) or his movements cause earthquakes (less often - storms).

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.

I48 has 1 other sub-motifs

I48. The character is deprived of the ability to move, after which he acquires cosmic dimensions: he supports the earth (sky) or his movements cause earthquakes (less often - storms).
I48a. The hero's adversary descends into the underworld.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of I48’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
I20C	97.10%	Dwarves live in an underground world that partly resembles the earthly world. If dwarves and humans meet, it happens underground.
M57B	96.22%	Beads or metals are the bodily secretions of a deity.
I80	95.94%	A character who finds himself in the locus of a deity responsible for atmospheric phenomena violates certain prohibitions or instructions, thereby causing excessively strong thunderstorms, rain, snowfall or wind.
I8E	94.76%	The sky or the earth is supported by four anthropomorphic male characters located at the four cardinal points.
E33	93.60%	People arise from grains, seeds, dough.
A8B	93.27%	Setting beyond the horizon, the sun shines on the anthropomorphic inhabitants of the underworld – the dead, dwarves, etc.
E1A	93.17%	The first humans are made of fragile materials (clay, wax, fire, honey, etc.) and prove to be unviable.
G12A	93.04%	Cultivated plants arise from drops of blood or flow like blood from cuts on the body of a human or animal.
I77	92.81%	A powerful character associated with thunderstorms and rain, lame.
F6	92.04%	(The first) woman does not have a vagina at first. Usually, it is made for her by a bird, animal, fish, etc.

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Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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🌐 Open as Airocean (Dymaxion) map ↗

Traditions

50 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 50 traditions: Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Tonga, Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka), Samoa, Timor: Amarasi, Tetum, Meto, Atoni (incl Mollo), Kedang (Lomblen island), Leti Islands (Leti, Moa, Lakor), Northern Luzon: Apayao, Bontoc, Nabaloi (Ibaloi), Ifugao, Igorot (highland people, not specified), Ilocan, Ilongot, Isneg, Kalinga, Kankanay, Tingian (Tinggian, Bilongan Itneg); Ibanag, Kasiguran Agta, Keley-i Kallahan, Khmu (Kammu), Puoc, Andamanese, Garo (Atchik), Kachari (Bodo, incl. Lalung), Dimasa, Tripuri, Riang (of Tripura), Khami, Riga, Mori, Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Lepcha, Ancient Italy: Latins, Etruscans, Magna Graecia, Macedonians, Balkarians, Ancient Greece, Scandinavians: early written sources ("Edda"; Saxo Grammaticus etc.); Gothland picture stones; Ancient Germans (Late Bronze Age in Scandinavia), Western Ukrainians, Persians, Ossetians, Ingush, Armenians, Buryats: Western (cis Baikal), Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Cherokee, Diegueño: Ipai, Tipai, Kamia (Kumeai), Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Mam, Ixil, Aguatec, Avakatec, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Tepehua, Totonac, Chol; pre-Columbian Mayan iconography outside of Yucatan, Lacandon, Paya (Pech), Sumu, Misquito, Bribri, Cabecar, Terraba; Chiriqui (AD 800-1500) iconography, Guaymi, Bocota, Dorasque; XVI century data on Western Panama, Cuna; XVI century data on Eastern Panama, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Tunebo, Muisca, Muzo, Paez, Guambia, Pijao; Ilama culture, Guayabero, Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Mai Huna (Coto, Orejon), Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Amuesha, Ashaninca (Campa), Machiguenga, Moseten, Chimane, Tonga (Tsonga; incl, Soli, Sala, Lenje), Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians

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