The Mythology and Folklore Database
I110B - Orion – reapers.




101 Myths, Legends and Folktales
101 Unique Narratives for Motif I110B
25 Cultures & Traditions where I110B is told
26 Mythemes Indexed
2 Sub-Motifs of Motif I110B


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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

Orion – people or agricultural tools associated with harvesting or haymaking.

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations


I11 has 2 other sub-motifs


I11.  The turtle (toad, frog) serves as a support (embodiment) of the earth (sky), or the supports of the sky are made from its body.
I11a.  Describes how, in the process of creation, the earth is placed on the back of a turtle or frog, which becomes its support.
I11b.  The pillars of the sky are made from the legs of a four-legged animal (usually a turtle).

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
K75C100.00%The devil promises a person wealth if he does not wash (cut his hair, etc.) for a certain period of time; both keep their promises.
K100D99.99%At the end of the story, the animal helper (horse, lion, etc.) turns into a prince (princess) itself.
K56E199.97%A man sees dwarves (spirits, witches) having fun. Their song mentions the names of the days of the week. The man sings along, naming the days that the dwarves like. He is rewarded. (Usually, someone else tries to get the same reward, but names the wrong days of the week and is punished).
K27G199.94%The character must quickly clean the stable or barn of the manure that has accumulated there over a long period of time.
A32M99.94%The moon is called the "Gypsy sun".
A35B99.94%The character tries to cover the moon with resin (so that it shines less brightly).
B12399.94%A fly lands on the chest of the crucified Jesus. His persecutors, who intended to drive a nail into his heart, do not do so, believing that the nail has already been driven in.
B12499.94%Ever since a piece of flesh was torn from a person's foot, a hollow has formed between the toe and the heel.
B49B99.94%In the past, cows had more teats on their udders than they do now.
C3299.94%Demonic characters will make a ship out of nail clippings.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 25 traditions: Wales, Portuguese, Portugal, France, Germans: North (Low- and Central German dialects): Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pommern, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony, incl East Frisia and Oldenburg), Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Thüringen, Saxony-Anhalt, Sachsen, Brandenburg, Rügen, Poles, Kashubians, Czech, Czechs, Slovakians, Slovaks, Hungarians, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Serbs, Monte Negro, Balkarians, Croatians, Croats; Italians of Dalmatia (if the motif is absent among other Italians), Slovenians, Slovenes, Romanians, Moldavians, Aromanians, Moldovans, Lithuanians, Estonians, Finns, Western Ukrainians, Byelarusians, Belarusians, Russians: Central part of ethnic territory as in A.D. 1500 (Tver, Yaroslavl, Moscow, Kostroma, Vladimir, Ivanovo, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga, Smolensk provinces; in case of absence in other areas also Russians in Vyatka, Perm, Kazan provinces), Ingrians, Prussians, Wallons, Picardie, Italians: Central (Toscana, Umbria, Marche, Lazio), Terek Cossacks


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