Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
K11 — The eyes of a monstrous bird: metamorphosis.
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
OverviewBrothers (brother and sister) kill a monstrous bird. Its eyes turn into heavenly bodies (among the Oaxacan Indians) or something else (among the present-day Condors of the Yokuts).
Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.
K11 has 5 other sub-motifs
RelatedK11. Brothers (brother and sister) kill a monstrous bird. Its eyes turn into heavenly bodies (among the Oaxacan Indians) or something else (among the present-day Condors of the Yokuts).
K11a. Plucked feathers of a (huge) bird turn into actual birds (or their plumage) or humans emerge from them.
K11a1. Pieces of flesh or feathers from a monstrous/unusual bird turn into present-day birds (or their plumage).
K11b. The bones of a huge bird are turned into reeds or bamboo for making arrows or sarbacanes.
K11C. The plucked feathers of a huge bird turn into plants.
K11D. Pieces of flesh from a huge creature that has fallen apart or been cut into pieces turn into ordinary animals, birds or fish.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| G14 | 100.00% | A man swallowed by a water monster is carried away to an underwater or overseas world, obtains plants, and returns to people. |
| L58 | 98.39% | A man refuses to give food to his closest relatives or spouse; as punishment, he or his food changes its nature. |
| J24 | 98.07% | The hero, ground into powder, is reborn. |
| D4D | 97.91% | The opossum obtains fire for humans. See motif D4A. |
| B2B | 97.16% | The earth feeds on the people buried in it. See motif B2A. |
| L26 | 96.90% | During the (first) initiation, supernatural beings teach boys rituals and kill them for violating rules related to the consumption and distribution of food. |
| M121 | 96.90% | A louse or other similar creature (flea, tick, firefly) is sent to follow a certain character. |
| K16A | 96.48% | In an effort to show that he is a good hunter, a man regularly walks in front of a girl, pretending to carry prey. Once he slips, and the imaginary prey turns out to be a scarecrow stuffed with ashes or a bundle of termites. |
| A47 | 96.13% | The sun is born or emerges from an egg. |
| B62 | 96.02% | Man believes that vultures live better than humans, changes his appearance to that of a vulture. The former vulture lives with the man's wife, and the man usually does not like his new life. |
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
8 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 8 traditions: Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Yokuts, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Chinantec, Mazatec, Mixtec, Trique, Cuicatec; Amuzgo, Zapotec, Chatino, Tzotzil, Yucatec, Itza
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