Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
M2 — Descending a tree.
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
OverviewThe hero descends from a tree or rock on the back of an animal or on the backs of animals.
Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes
This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| C13 | 97.89% | During or before the onset of a global catastrophe (flood, darkness) or (surui) at night, household items and/or stones, trees, domestic animals, and cultivated plants turn into wild birds and animals or come to life. |
| I54 | 97.60% | Inside a snake or other aquatic creature are aquatic animals or live fish; an aquatic monster gives birth to fish, is the master of fish; turns into many fish. |
| F18B | 97.43% | After intercourse with a forbidden partner (incest, intercourse with an animal or spirit), a man's penis becomes so long that he is forced to carry it in a basket, etc. |
| K6 | 97.33% | A vine or rope emerges from tears, snot, urine, saliva, and chewed substance. See motif K1A. |
| J8 | 97.27% | A woman or girl sets out in search of a husband (fiancé, etc.). Bird feathers left on the trail, at a crossroads or near a dwelling mark the right or wrong path. See motif J7. |
| L55 | 97.27% | To neutralise a dangerous enemy, a caustic or boiling liquid is poured into one of the openings of its body. |
| J43 | 97.03% | To destroy his antagonists, the hero creates edible bait for them, usually a fruit tree on the other side of the river. |
| M107 | 97.03% | A small character kills or maims a large four-legged animal by clinging to its genitals. |
| M21A | 97.02% | The character is pursued by an enemy. An animal hides the fugitive in its mouth or on its body, and when the pursuer appears, it refuses to open its mouth or expose part of its body. (Usually simulates illness – toothache, etc.). Cf. motif i87ad. |
| A1A | 97.01% | Before the sun appeared, the world was lit by a large bird with bright colours (a parrot or toucan). |
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
11 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 11 traditions: Dan (=Gio), Guro (=Kweni, incl Gagu, Neio), Toura, Mano, Ngere, Beng, Guro , Sierra Miwok, Lake Miwok, Plains Miwok, Coastal Miwok, Lacandon, Kekchi; Mopan, Makiritare (Yecuana), Yanomamo (Yanoama): Yanomam, Yanomami, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Tariana
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