Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif

I8G — Atlas, A842.

129 Myths, legends and folktales

129 Unique narratives for motif I8G

77 Cultures & traditions where I8G is told

10 Sub-motifs of motif I8G

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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

A single giant holds up the earth or the sky.

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.

I8 has 10 other sub-motifs

I8A.  The world, earth or sky are supported by anthropomorphic beings.
I8B.  The earth or sky is supported by zoomorphic creatures.
I8c.  The earth is prevented from falling or swaying because it is tied with ropes.
I8D.  The earth or sky is supported by mountains, pillars, nails, trees.
I8e.  The sky or the earth is supported by four anthropomorphic male characters located at the four cardinal points.
I8e1.  The sky or earth is supported by four objects or beings located at the four cardinal points (either four groups of beings, or four at the corners and a fifth in the centre). Th A841. See motifs 8A, 8D.
I8f.  The sky, the world rests on a single object (a pillar or tree).
I8g.  A single giant holds up the earth or the sky.
I8G1.  At the foot of the world pillar is an anthropomorphic character, or a character identified with a tree or pillar on which the world rests, or a character holding ropes on which the world is suspended.
I8h.  The earth is supported by a man and a woman in the underworld.
I8i.  Initially, the earth rocks, unstable, and must be specially secured.

🌐 See a combined distribution map for all of I8’s motifs

Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Phylogeny

Motif	Similarity	Motif summary
J21	95.01%	Gods, ancestors of humans, and founders of dynasties are born from eggs.
B2E	93.69%	The Earth or the world as a whole is a male character (alone or alongside a female character).
C7	93.66%	Initially or after the flood, an earthen or stone barrier, the body of a character or creature prevents the flow of water. Later, this barrier is removed or destroyed.
I8E1	93.45%	The sky or earth is supported by four objects or beings located at the four cardinal points (either four groups of beings, or four at the corners and a fifth in the centre). Th A841. See motifs 8A, 8D.
L13	93.25%	People feed a dangerous creature, or it grows on its own in a man-made enclosure. Once it becomes big and strong, it starts to destroy people.
L14	93.04%	People bring a small creature (usually a worm or reptile) into their home and raise it, or it settles into a man-made dwelling on its own. The creature turns into something terrifying or magnificent. See motif L13 (raised monster attacks people).
F16	91.22%	Men possessed biological characteristics that are now characteristic of women, or vice versa (beards, menstruation, breasts, childbearing).
K25E	90.34%	Humans in general or a specific ethnic, tribal or social group are considered descendants of an earthly man and woman of supernatural origin.
I7	90.18%	The reptile produces rain and thunderstorms.
I85C1	90.08%	In the sky there is a vessel, a box or an indescribable container for storing rain (rain clouds).

See the 100 most similar distributions →

Map of motif dispersal

Distribution

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Traditions

77 recorded

This motif has been recorded in 77 traditions: Ugarit, Phoenicia, Arabs of Levant (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan); Bedouins of Sinai, Tonga, Nyamwesi, Sumbwa, Hehe, Pangwa (Upper Rufudji area), Bena, Matumbi, Ngoni, Pogolo, (Ma)konde, Mawiha, Temne (Timne), Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka), Papua-NewGuinea Highland Papuans:Trans New Guinea & unclassified:Chimbu,Gimi,KaugelHuli,Gadsup,Kuman,Kutubu,Foi (Foe),Kyaka,Kamano (Kafe),Mawatta,Kukukuku (=Anga,=Sambia;Manki,Nauti,Ejuti),Baruya,Kewa,Tembregak,Menya,Melpa,Wiru,Pondoma, Melanesians of the northern coast New Guinea, nearest off-shore islands and Huon Gulf (Morobe district): Watut, Bilbil (Bilibili), Jabim (incl Kai), Tami, Bukawac, Wogeo, Tumleo, Yakamul, Manam, Sissano, Sio, Samoa, Society Islands: Tahiti, Borabora, Raiatea, Alor, Solor, Wetar, Atauru, Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken), Simeulue, Nias, 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, Central islands and Bikol: Vizaya, Mansaká, Bikol, Mangyan, Panayan, Sulod, Cebuano (Cebu), Capiz, Romblomanon, Manuyu, Southern Taiwan: Rukai, Paiwan, Puyuma, Saaroa, Ketangalan, Karen, Pa-O, Padaung, Kayah, Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Wa (incl Kawa), Bulang, Northern Munda of Kharwar branch: Birhor, Ho, Mundari, Kol, Asur (including Agaria, Kol, Birjhia), Bhumij, Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), 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, Chin-Naga: Ao, Mao, Sema, Zeme, Kolren, Kom, Lhota, Rengma, Angami, Kabui, Tangkhul, Koirenf, Kuki, Chiru, Falam (Hallam), Chin (Meitei =Manipuri, Khami, =Kumi), Lakher, Mizo (Lushei), Anal, Pawi (Lai), Purum, Koireng, Milhiem, Kolhen, Mru, Toda, Kota, Kuruba (Kurumba), Badaga, Maravar, Pulaya, Kadar, Tribal groups and castes of Central-Eastern India that speak Aryan languages: Dhoba (Dhobi), Halba (Halbi), Bhunjia, Lohar (Luhar, Luhara), Kahar, Sinhalese; Vedda, Kafir, or Nuristani: Prasun; Kati (incl. Paruni), Ashkun (Ashunu), Waigali, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Li , Early Chinese written sources, Koreans, Ancient Italy: Latins, Etruscans, Magna Graecia, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Ancient Greece, Western Sami, Eastern Sami (including Skolts), Western Ukrainians, Iranian literary tradition (including Avesta, Pahlevi scripts, Sah-nameh, Marzban-nameh); Zoroastrians of Iran, Indian Parsees, Zoroastrianism, Ossetians, Azeris (Azerbaijanis), Nenets, Tagish, Inland Tlingit, Tahltan, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Lkungen (Straits; including Samish, Songish, Sooke, Lummi), Klallam, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Tojolabal, Chuj, Jacalteca, Kanjobal, Mocho (incl Tuzantec), Acatec, Tepehua, Totonac, Huastec (Teenek), Huave, Tzotzil, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Muisca, Muzo, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Chayahuita , Lima dep: Costa and adjacent Sierra (Spanish, Kechua, and Jacaru-speaking communities, mostly in Pachacamac, Cajatambo, Canta, Huarochirí; Spanish sources of XVI-XVII centuries), Ashaninca (Campa), Harákmbet (=Mashco), Tacana, Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Mundurucu, Curuaia, Guarani of Paraguay and Brazil: Caygua, Mbia, Apapocuva, Nyandewa, Chiripa, Tonga (Tsonga; incl, Soli, Sala, Lenje), Arabs (literary tradition; incl. One Thousand and One Nights), Kayapa, Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, China

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