K8A — Jonah: swallowed by an aquatic or chthonic creature.

The character enters the belly of an aquatic creature or a giant creature whose appearance and habitat are not precisely described. He kills the creature from within (K952) and/or returns to the outside without outside help. Upon emerging from the belly, he often finds himself bald (K921). Cf. motifs I81B (Charybdis) and L110 (Devourer).

Berezkin category: Adventures: Acts of heroes

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

K8a.  The character enters the belly of an aquatic creature or a giant creature whose appearance and habitat are not precisely described. He kills the creature from within (K952) and/or returns to the outside without outside help. Upon emerging from the belly, he often finds himself bald (K921). Cf. motifs I81B (Charybdis) and L110 (Devourer).
K8aa.  A huge bird swallows people. The hero kills it, freeing those who have been swallowed, or, if he himself has been swallowed, he manages to get out alive.
K8b.  A raven finds itself in the belly of a whale; the woman inside asks it not to touch a certain organ of the whale (usually the heart) or a burning lamp. The raven breaks the prohibition, the woman disappears, and the whale dies.
K8c.  The character enters the belly of an ordinary land animal, kills it from within (K952) and/or returns to the outside without outside help. Cf. motif M118.
K8c1.  A tiny man is first accidentally swallowed by a large herbivore, then carried off by a wolf that began to eat the carcass of this animal.
K8c2.  The mouse is swallowed by a large land animal and comes out by cutting it open from the inside.
K8c3.  One (zoomorphic) character refuses to use any part of another's body except the one he uses to kill him.
K8c4.  A small animal (bird, mouse, porcupine, fox) or (rarely) a tiny human being allows itself to be swallowed by a large ungulate (elk, deer, bison, tapir) in order to rip open its belly (and eat it).
K8c5.  A zoomorphic character no larger than a fox allows itself to be swallowed by a bear and kills it by tearing it apart from the inside.
K8d.  The character enters the body of an anthropomorphic creature, kills it from within (K952) and/or returns to the outside without outside help.
K8e.  The character penetrates inside the creature through the anus.
K8f.  The swallowed one discovers a living deer in the belly of the monster. See motif K8A.

This motif has been recorded in 233 traditions: Old and New Testament, Saudi Arabia, Arabs of Levant (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan); Bedouins of Sinai, Arabs of Iraq, Iraqi, Arabs of Egypt, Malagasy, Nuba, Ngbakka, Mbum (incl Mbai), Mundang, Fali, Tupuri, Maya (=Bali), Nyong, Zande (Azande, incl Nzakara), Tonga, Swahili, Midjikenda (incl Giryama), Nyika, Duruma; Ngindo, Kiluguru and other Islamic groups of the Eastern Coast of Africa, Luba (Baluba, Luba-Katanga, Shaba), (Ba)Holoholo, Tumbwe, Bena-Piana, Tabwa, Benabena-Mitumba, Zela, Bene-Marungu, Zulu, Swazi, Tswana (Chwana), Suto (Soto; incl Pedi, Mbire), Duala (Douala), Basa (Basaá), Kwiri (Kweli), Isubu, Maka (Makaa), Baya, Kaka, Cross-River: Efik, Ibibio, Anaang (Anang), Ikom, Abua, Yoruba; incl Ife), Nupe, Bini (Edo), Engenni, Chamba, Dakka, Kukuruku, Mandingo (Manden, incl San, Samo), Kagoro, Bambara (Bamana), Malinke, Kassonke, Diula, Northern Gur (Oti-Volta): Mamprussi, Dagomba, Dagari (Dagara; incl Lodaga), Bassari, Mosi, Nankanse, Konkomba, Moba; Ditammari, Nyende, Bulsa (pl Builsa, Bulo), Bushmen (all groups), Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka), Saibai, Dauan, Boigu, Badu, Waraber, Wet, Warei, Dauar, Badu, Moa, 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, Melanesians and Papuans of Bismark Archipelago: New Britain (Paparatava, Lakalai, Kuni, Sulka, Gazelle peninsula), New Ireland, St Matthias Group, Mioko (Melanesians between New Britain and New Ireland), Melanesians and Papuans of Central Solomons: Vella la Vella (Bilua language), Shortland islands (Mono language), San Cristobal, Saint Georgia, Eddystone, Vangunu, Southern Solomons: southern part of Santa Ysabel (Bughotu), Guadalcanal, San Cristobal, Malaita, Ulawa, Melanesians of Admiralty Islands (incl Manus); Seimat (Western Islands), Central Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo, Araki, Aore, Maewo, Malekula, Vao, Efate (Vate), Nguna, Mae, Ambrim, Pentecost, Oba (=Aoba, East Ambae, Lepers'), Omba, Loyalty Islands (Uvea, Lifu, Mare), Wallis (=Uvea, different from Melanesian Uvea), Futuna, Tikopia, Bellona, Rennell, partly Aneytium, Futuna (=Erronan, not to be mixed with Futuna in Western Polynesia), Vaeaka-Taumato, incl Matema, Nifeloli, Nukapu, Nupani, Pileni, Tuamotu, incl Pukapuka (different from Pukapuka in Cook Islands), Vahitahi, Anaa, Hao, Fangatau, Marquesas, Batak (Toba, Dairi), Minangkabau; Kerinci, Malay; Temuan (incl Mantra or Mentra), Jakun (Moken), Simeulue, Nias, Lampung (Lampong); South Sumatra Malays (incl. Bengkulu), 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, Karen, Pa-O, Padaung, Kayah, Shan, Ahom, Khampti, Tjam, Ede, Jörai (Jarai), Viet, Muong, Nicobarese, Santali, Turi, Mahli, Konds (Khonds; language is Kui, incl Kuttia, Konda-Dora), Koya; Pengo, Indian literary tradition (Vedic, Brahman, Purana, Indian Buddhism, Hinduism, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jatakas); iconography of Hindu temples, Tamil, Muthuvan, Marvar, Tamils, Bengali, Hindi-speaking peoples and casts (incl. Teli, Parahiya; incl. Chhattisgarhi) of Northern and West-Central India, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Meo (Hmong) of Thailand, Laos and Northern Vietnam, Koreans, Ireland, Scotland, Scots, Picts, Scotti, Scottish, France, Hungarians, Ancient Greece, Lithuanians, Finns, Karelians, Danes, Danish, Uzbek, Tajik, Baluch, Persians, Ossetians, Ingush, Svans, Georgians, Kalmyk, Azeris (Azerbaijanis), Kurds, Kazakh, Uyghur, Bashkirs, Komi (Zyrians and Permyaks), Eastern Khanty (Ostyaks), Buryats: Western (cis Baikal), Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Mongols (Khalkha), Daur (Daghur), Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Northern Altai: Chelkan, Kumanda, Tubalar, Altaians, Southern Selkups, Northern Selkups, Central Yakuts (Sakha), Ainu, Udeghe, Olcha (Ulch), Nivkh, Chukchi, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Central Yupik, Nunivak Island, Chugach, Dogrib, Slavey, Upper Tanana (Nebesna), Tanacross, Tutchone, Inland Tlingit, Kaska, Athna, Koyukon, Tanana, Beaver, Bering Strait Inupiat (incl. King Island), North Alaskan Inupiat, Baffin Land Inuit, West Greenland, Labrador Inuit (Koksoagmiut), Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka'wakw), Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Bella Coola (Nuxalk), Lenape (Delaware), Western Ojibwa (Chippewa), Eastern Ojibwa (Missisauga, Timagami and other groups in eastern Ontario), Northern Ojibwa (=Severn Ojibwa, Sandy Lake Cree), Western Woods Cree, Eastern Cree, Attikamek, Montagnais, Menominee, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Winnebago, Blackfoot, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Osage, Omaha, Ponca, Iowa, Arikara, Wichita; Spiro Mound iconography, Tonkawa, Gros Ventre, Plains Cree, Plains Ojibwa, Crow, Chilkotin, Shuswap, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lillooet, Lkungen (Straits; including Samish, Songish, Sooke, Lummi), Klallam, Comox, Pentlatch, Lushootseed (Puget Sound: Puyallup, Nisqualmi, Snuqualmi, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Snohomish, Skagit), Lower Chehalis, Upper Chehalis, (Lower) Cowlitz, Western Sahaptin (Upper Cowlitz, Klikitat, Tenino, Umatilla, Yakima, Wallawalla), Nez Perce, Tillamook, Oregon Athabaskans: Lower Umpqua, Tututni (incl Joshua), Upper Coquille, Galice, Tolowa, Coos, Coeur D'Alene, Kalispel (Pend d'Oreille; incl Spokane), Flathead, Kutenai, Lower Chinook (Chinook proper), Shasta; Chimariko, Hupa, Chilula, Cherokee, Yokuts, Mono (Monache), Navajo, Jicarilla, Hopi, Diegueño: Ipai, Tipai, Kamia (Kumeai), Pima, Papago, Mayo, Yaqui, Sinaloa, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Gulf Nahuatl, Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Yucatec, Itza, Kekchi; Mopan, Paya (Pech), Sumu, Misquito, Guaymi, Bocota, Dorasque; XVI century data on Western Panama, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Chimila (Ette), Cuiva, Yaruro, Sanema, Wapishana (incl Ataroi); Mapidian; Taruma, Waiwai, Trio, Kaxuyana (Warikyana, Arikena), Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Akawai, Locono, Guiana Kariña, Kaliña, Galibi, Colorado (Tsachila), Siona, Secoya, Coreguaje, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Kofan, Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Aguaruna, Huambiza, Chayahuita , Karijona, Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Wanana, Tucano proper, Pira-Tapuya, Arapaso, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Baniwa (incl. Wakuenai), Bare, Piapoco, Curripaco, Siusi, Guarikena , Yagua, Ticuna (Tucuna), Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Piro (Yine), Tacana, Moseten, Chimane, Yuracare, Tupari, Makurap, Sakirap, Ajuru (Wayoro), Parintintin; Villa Bella (tribal affiliation unknown), Mehinaku, Waura, Yaulapiti, Makka, Ayoreo, Nivakle (=Chulupi, Ashluslay, Ajlujlay), Chorote, Toba (incl Pilagá), Northern and Southern Tehuelche, Yamana (Yaghan), Alacaluf, Tonga (Tsonga; incl, Soli, Sala, Lenje), Kodiak, Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet, Arabs (literary tradition; incl. One Thousand and One Nights), Kayapa, Salars, Buryats: Eastern (trans Baikal), i.e. Khori, China, Russian Federation