The Mythology and Folklore Database
A11B - One-eyed luminaries.




39 Myths, Legends and Folktales
34 Unique Narratives for Motif A11B
22 Cultures & Traditions where A11B is told
69 Mythemes Indexed
3 Sub-Motifs of Motif A11B


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 Motif Summary  -   Motifs with Simlar Dispersals  -    Map of Myth Distribution   -   List of Traditions  -   Myths



Source Data from Berezkin's Analytics Catalogue, if using this data please acknowledge and link to it here:
Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.



Summary of Motif

The sun or moon has one eye (usually the second eye is knocked out or sucked out, but sometimes the reason is not explained; among the Munduruku, the sun of the rainy season has lost both eyes, while the sun of the dry season has retained both). See motif 11A.

Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 1, Sun and Moon


A11 has 3 other sub-motifs


A11a.  The visible sun or moon are their eyes; if the eyes of the luminaries were not damaged, it would be much brighter and hotter.
A11b.  The sun or moon has one eye (usually the second eye is knocked out or sucked out, but sometimes the reason is not explained; among the Munduruku, the sun of the rainy season has lost both eyes, while the sun of the dry season has retained both). See motif 11A.
A11c.  The Sun and Moon kill a monster whose eyes shine differently. At first, the Moon takes the brighter eye, but then swaps with the Sun.
A11D.  The moon opens and closes its eyes (phases of the moon).

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
C12B95.91%All people or individual ethnic groups, lineages, families are considered descendants of dogs (with which a man mated).
I8E195.35%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.
D1A395.33%A man marries a woman who is fire. She is mistreated, or her husband does not like her, and the marriage breaks down.
G9A95.33%The field that was cultivated the day before turns back into virgin soil by morning.
G1594.94%In another world or in the past, products or materials used by humans look or looked like people.
A11A94.39%The visible sun or moon are their eyes; if the eyes of the luminaries were not damaged, it would be much brighter and hotter.
I6992.93%Luminous celestial objects or atmospheric phenomena are bodily secretions of celestial beings.
I8092.86%A character who finds himself in the locus of a deity responsible for atmospheric phenomena violates certain prohibitions or instructions, thereby causing excessively strong thunderstorms, rain, snowfall or wind.
C791.83%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.
A191.28%Another sun — less powerful or less favourable to humans — existed before the appearance of the current one.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 22 traditions: Masai, Southern Luzon: Pampango, Pangacian, Sambal, Tagal, Tayabas; Calamian, Bhuiya (now Aryans, originally Munda; Rahman 1955: 203), Baiga, Bhaina, Bhumia (subgroup of Baiga, incl Bharia, formerly Munda, now speak Indo-Aryan languages of neighboring groups), Sora (Savara, Saora), Parenga, 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, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Greeks (modern), Balkarians, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Macedonians, Balkarians, Chugach, Nez Perce, Coeur D'Alene, Kalispel (Pend d'Oreille; incl Spokane), Huichol, Pame, Jonaz (Chichimeca-Jonaz), Mazahua, Otomi, Pipil, Tzotzil, Kekchi; Mopan, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Colorado (Tsachila), Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Mundurucu, Curuaia, Kayapa


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