The Mythology and Folklore Database
B17 - Night in a vessel.
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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
Darkness is a special object that can be carried and transferred (usually brought from the original owner in a vessel or bag).Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part 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
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| F28B | 97.01% | A woman uses a penis made of wax, wood, fruit or root. Usually her husband or male relative smears it with pepper, and the woman is maimed or killed. |
| K13C | 96.61% | The cannibal's daughter takes revenge on her husband for her mother's death and manages to cut off his leg. See motif K13A. |
| L3 | 96.38% | The demon takes on human form and comes to his wife (less often to another woman). Usually, the woman (alone or with a child) runs away and/or kills the monster, either by herself or with someone's help. |
| E8 | 96.31% | The first humans or the wife of the first ancestor were made of wood. |
| B7B | 95.99% | The sea (flood, river) flows out of a small container. |
| F27 | 95.60% | It is dangerous for girls or women to approach water (water creatures drag them away or swallow them; a girl who approaches water dies; she becomes pregnant by a snake; through her fault, a flood or other disaster occurs; water spirits themselves come to a girl who has her first period). |
| F12 | 95.56% | A husband kills his wife by inserting her lover's severed penis into her body. |
| F88 | 95.30% | Female genitals are initially fragrant or odourless, but then acquire an unpleasant odour (they do not acquire a fragrant odour). |
| D5 | 95.28% | The original owner or inventor (but not the embodiment) of fire is a female character. |
| L24 | 95.21% | Demons (or one of them) attack people and then hide. People destroy the demons' lair and kill all or most of them by spreading a smoky fire around the demons' refuge. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 39 traditions: Oromo (Galla), Konso, Sidamo, Darasa, Bussa (Bassa), Kambata, Guji, 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), Santa Cruz Islands (incl Nguna, Reef Islands), Northern Vanuatu: Banks Islands (incl Mota, Mota Lava, Gaua, Santa Maria), Torres Islands, Central Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo, Araki, Aore, Maewo, Malekula, Vao, Efate (Vate), Nguna, Mae, Ambrim, Pentecost, Oba (=Aoba, East Ambae, Lepers'), Omba, Southern Vanuatu: Tanna, Aneiteum (Polynesian component not included), Eromanga, Kayan, Bahau, Kenja, Aoheng, Punan (Bukat, Basap, Oloh Ot, etc); "Klemantan", Klamath, Modoc, Yurok, Northern Paiute (=Paviotso), Western Shoshone, Gosiute, Chemehuevi, Chiricahua, Kiliwa, Guajiro, Sicuani, Yaruro, Hixkariyana, Waorani, Aguaruna, Huambiza, Chayahuita , Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Maue (Mawe), Tupinamba, Tenetehara, Amahuaca, Cashinahua, Sharanahua, Yaminahua, Yawanahua, Capanahua), Yabuti, Amniapä, Kumana, Wari (Aikana), More (Itene), Parintintin; Villa Bella (tribal affiliation unknown), Suruí, Gaviâo, Zoro, Arua, Cinta Larga, Mundurucu, Curuaia, Kayabi, Nambikwara, Vilela, Kono (=Kone), Wai, Kodiak, Upper Chinook: Wasco, Wishram, Clackamas, Kathlamet