Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
I53 — An insect annoys the support of the earth.
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
OverviewAn insect or other small creature bothers the animal that supports the earth, so the animal moves and the earth shakes (or, conversely, the animal is afraid to move because of the insect).
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.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| F14 | 95.62% | The hero is born as a result of the union of a man with a stone or rock. |
| E41A | 95.38% | The first ticks were made as a result of observing animals (a dog's crossed paws, two snakes, snake jaws, etc.). |
| M114C | 95.28% | The character is puzzled as to how the other person's clothes (firewood, etc.) remained dry after the rain – the other person covered them with their body (hid them in a vessel, waited out the rain in a shelter). |
| I51A | 95.13% | The earth is supported by or has a large mammal at its centre. See motif I8B. |
| M171C | 95.04% | At the request of a character, another character removes a thorn from his body (cuts off the tip of his tail, etc.). The thorn (tip of the tail) disappears, or when it is removed, the character is wounded. As a result, he receives something more valuable than what he has lost. |
| L37B3 | 95.04% | From the birds' conversation, humans learn that their bodies or secretions have miraculous properties. |
| L72G | 95.00% | Fleeing for his life, the character throws salt behind him, preventing his pursuer from continuing the chase. |
| K90A | 94.77% | Seeing two snakes of contrasting colours fighting, a man tries to strike one, but accidentally hits the other. The relatives of this snake gather to punish him, but upon learning what happened, they reward him. |
| M29Z1 | 94.58% | purely anthropomorphic character, or a character who bears the name of an animal or plant but does not act zoomorphic in the course of his adventures. See the motives in square brackets. {Data not fully entered} |
| K27R | 94.47% | The person giving the task requires an item or message to be brought from the world. |
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
21 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 21 traditions: Aka, Baka (Badjue) and other Western (Bantu speaking) Pygmies, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Minangkabau; Kerinci, Mindanao and Sulu: Blaan (Bilaan), Bagobo, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Hiligáynon, Binukid, Magindaan (=Magindanao: main Muslim population), Mandaya, Mansaka, Manobo (Agusan, Ata, Dibabawon, Sarangani, Ilianen), Maranao, Samal, Subanon (=Subanun), Subanen, Tboli, Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), SW Arunachal Pradesh: Sherdukpen, Tawang (Monpas), Aka (Hrusso), Miji, Bengali, Bhils (incl Barela-Bhilala), Dards (Kalash, Kho, Kohistani, Shina, Pashai), Bulgarians, Balkarians, Uzbek, Pashto, Abkhaz, Abkhazians, Ingush, Avar, Andi, Akhvakh, Armenians, Anatolia Turks, Kurds, Talysh, Bosnians, China
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