The Mythology and Folklore Database
F43C - Husbands of women - animals.




11 Myths, Legends and Folktales
11 Unique Narratives for Motif F43C
7 Cultures & Traditions where F43C is told
45 Mythemes Indexed
3 Sub-Motifs of Motif F43C


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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 husbands of the first women, Amazons or single women are small animals - usually flying foxes.

Berezkin category: Gender and sex

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 5, Origin of human beings, ethnic groups, etiology of human anatomy, strange body configuration, ways of behavior, marriages before the establishment of the present norms


F43 has 3 other sub-motifs


F43.  The women of the community of the first ancestors kill or abandon the men.
F43a.  In the community of the first ancestors, women kill, attempt to kill, or transform men.
F43b.  Leaving the men, the women of the community of the first ancestors hide in a hole underground.
F43c.  The husbands of the first women, Amazons or single women are small animals - usually flying foxes.

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
A21A100.00%The moon is an object that was accidentally released by its owners or stolen from them and ended up in the sky.
B118100.00%A character who was unable to reach the sky or returned from the sky to earth becomes an owl.
B74B100.00%The owl is forced to part with the moon and now cries out when it sees the moon. Usually, the story tells how the marriage of the owl and the moon fell apart or did not take place.
E39A100.00%An animal (snake, pig) conceives from a man's urine and gives birth to a human child (or twins).
K32F100.00%A woman or girl raises a bird of prey chick, which brings her food and fire. This usually happens after an evil spirit leaves the girl or young woman in a tree or on an island.
K37D100.00%The character recognises the presence of another by noticing traces of their teeth or nails on fruit or leaves.
L132100.00%When one member of a small (family) group, left alone, secretly eats food, this leads to serious conflict, often resulting in the murder of the guilty party.
L133100.00%The character keeps his limbs separately, connecting them to his body when necessary.
M5A100.00%Small animal characters sail in the boat, it sinks, everyone escapes as best they can.
M5B100.00%rat drowns, has difficulty getting to the shore (usually an aquatic animal takes it), and mocks other animals (usually its savior).

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 7 traditions: Western Australia: Walmanjeri, Njolnjol (Njulnjul, Nyul-Nyul), Worora, Kariara (Karierra), Karadjari (Karadjeri, Garadjari), Djaberdjaber (Djaberadjabera), Ngarluma, Wiilman (Wheelman), Bibbulmum (Pebelman), Burong (Panaka), Sepik-Ramu stock: Abelam, Yatmul, Aibom, Ayom (incl Tembregak, Asai-river pygmies), Tangu, Porapora (Ambakich), Rao and other groups of Middle Ramu and Upper Keram River tribes; Kwanga, Watam, Kaian, Gamei, Awar; Kire (Lower Ramu), Torricelli family: Valman, Samap, Arapesh (Upper, Coastal), Monumbo, Lilau, Ngaimbom; Moando (Banara); Menya, Olo, Northern Vanuatu: Banks Islands (incl Mota, Mota Lava, Gaua, Santa Maria), Torres Islands, 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, Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria


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