The Mythology and Folklore Database
I43B - The Milky Way – snake, fish.

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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 Milky Way is a reptile, fish or chain of fish.

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

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

I43 has 1 other sub-motifs I43a.  A giant reptile, serpent, fish, or chain of fish stretches across the earth and/or supports the sky. Usually associated with the Milky Way, sometimes with a rainbow. I43b.  The Milky Way is a reptile, fish or chain of fish.  Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of I43's motifs?

Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

Motif	Similarity	Motif Summary
I43A	97.97%	A giant reptile, serpent, fish, or chain of fish stretches across the earth and/or supports the sky. Usually associated with the Milky Way, sometimes with a rainbow.
F26	96.24%	The transfer of sacred musical instruments (horns, trumpets) from women to men is associated with the onset of menstruation in women.
F6	94.18%	(The first) woman does not have a vagina at first. Usually, it is made for her by a bird, animal, fish, etc.
B30B	94.06%	Animals arise from the remains of a killed person.
B55	93.12%	Fish grow on tree branches or tree leaves turn into fish.
I14	92.27%	Creatures without an anal opening are described.
J22D	92.00%	Foreigners or animals of two different species emerge from a single person or animal cut in half.
J49	92.00%	The wife and/or sister of the Moon unsuccessfully tries to climb up to him in the sky or reaches him but returns to earth.
G8C	91.72%	The first ancestors try to cut down a tree (less often a high rock) to get useful plants hanging on the branches (at the top) or water or fish in the trunk. The damage disappears as soon as the workers are distracted from their work, or periodically.
G7	91.65%	The first ancestors need to cut down a giant tree or (rarely) a rock. Their axes become blunt or break, and/or they obtain a special axe suitable for such work. If not otherwise: a tree with cultivated plants at the top, see motif G5A.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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Terrain Minimal Countries

This motif has been recorded in 23 traditions: Malawi (incl Nyanja, Banyanja, Manganja), Tumbuka (incl Henga), Nsenga, Matengo, (Ba)Wenda, Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands), Society Islands: Tahiti, Borabora, Raiatea, Southern Cook Islands: Mangaia, Rarotonga, Atiu, Iatutakim Pukapuka, Tubuai (=Austral Islands, incl Rapa), Tuamotu, incl Pukapuka (different from Pukapuka in Cook Islands), Vahitahi, Anaa, Hao, Fangatau, Mangareva, Hawaii, Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Minangkabau; Kerinci, Simeulue, Nias, Ami, Burmese, Intha, Indian literary tradition (Vedic, Brahman, Purana, Indian Buddhism, Hinduism, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jatakas); iconography of Hindu temples, Early Chinese written sources, Byelarusians, Belarusians, Western Mexico Nahuatl, Quiche, Achí, Cakchiquel, Pocomchi, Pocomam, Kekchi; Mopan, Wanana, Tucano proper, Pira-Tapuya, Arapaso, Urubu (Urubu-Kaapor), Tenetehara, Mocovi; Kechua of Santiago del Estero with probable Guaikuruan substratum; Abipon, China

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