Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I85B — The North Star – Man.

38 Myths, legends and folktales

38 Unique narratives for motif I85B

30 Cultures & traditions where I85B is told

5 Sub-motifs of motif I85B

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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 North Star – one person.

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.

I85 has 5 other sub-motifs

I85.  Polar Star – stake, nail, hitching post, etc.
I85a.  Animals walk around the North Star, or the movement of the stars is compared to the movement of animals around a pole. See motif I85.
I85a1.  The North Star – a hole leading to the upper world.
I85b.  The North Star – one person.
I85c.  The character goes up to the sky and finds vessels containing various (two or more) types of precipitation, weather phenomena, seasons and/or celestial bodies.
I85c1.  In the sky there is a vessel, a box or an indescribable container for storing rain (rain clouds).

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of I85’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
K27Z	94.26%	A character gains power over another by winning a game of chance or an intellectual game (not a sporting competition). The motif includes all texts with motif K27z4.
K27M	89.48%	Task: to kill and bring an animal of a certain (often unusual) colour or shape. See motif K27.
I48A	87.21%	The hero's adversary descends into the underworld.
B42P	87.05%	The Big Dipper is identified with a bear.
I64A	86.93%	Two different hoofed animals race across the sky. Usually, the Milky Way is the dusty trail they leave behind.
K23	86.65%	Birds attack inhabitants of another world or a person who has entered another world. See motif K22.
B42H	86.57%	Orion's Belt – game, another star or group of stars within or outside Orion – hunter.
K27S	86.53%	Competition: running, racing. See motif K27.
M49	85.66%	The hero meets a character from the enemy camp and, taking on his form, penetrates enemies. Usually, the hero kills the person he meets and puts on his skin.
J17	85.53%	Instead of lice in the character's hair, there are other creatures, or he pretends that such creatures live in his hair.

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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🌐 Open as Airocean (Dymaxion) map ↗

Traditions

30 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 30 traditions: Saudi Arabia, Arabs of Levant (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan); Bedouins of Sinai, Geez, Tigrai, Tigre, Tuareg, Eastern Arunachal Pradesh: Abor (incl Minyong, Shimong, Padam, Pasi, Panggi), Apa Tani (Apatani), Bori, Bugun, Dafla (=Nyishi, Nisi, Nishing, incl Tagin), Gallong (=Galo, Adi), Mishmi, Kuki, Chiru, Falam (Hallam), Chin (Meitei =Manipuri, Khami, =Kumi), Lakher, Mizo (Lushei), Anal, Pawi (Lai), Purum, Koireng, Milhiem, Kolhen, Mru, Indian literary tradition (Vedic, Brahman, Purana, Indian Buddhism, Hinduism, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jatakas); iconography of Hindu temples, Dards (Kalash, Kho, Kohistani, Shina, Pashai), Wakhi, Ishkashimi (including Sanglich), Munji, Abaza (Abazins), Ossetians, Kazakh, Mongols (Khalkha), Khakas, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians, Nenets, Ainu, Manchu, Winnebago, Blackfoot, Teton (incl Oglala), Osage, Wichita; Spiro Mound iconography, Crow, Western Sahaptin (Upper Cowlitz, Klikitat, Tenino, Umatilla, Yakima, Wallawalla), Caddo, Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Luiseño, Juaneño, Russian Federation

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