The Mythology and Folklore Database
L25 - The devil sucks out brains.




20 Myths, Legends and Folktales
19 Unique Narratives for Motif L25
12 Cultures & Traditions where L25 is told
56 Mythemes Indexed
0 Sub-Motifs of Motif L25


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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

By killing demons, people save the life of a child, girl or woman. Remaining among people, she or he kills people (usually children) left in her or his care.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part group 10, Adventures



Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
B2B93.68%The earth feeds on the people buried in it. See motif B2A.
A4793.68%The sun is born or emerges from an egg.
A22A92.01%Two characters burn; one turns into the present sun, and the other into a less significant celestial object. See motif A22.
I8E91.98%The sky or the earth is supported by four anthropomorphic male characters located at the four cardinal points.
B6291.76%Man believes that vultures live better than humans, changes his appearance to that of a vulture. The former vulture lives with the man's wife, and the man usually does not like his new life.
I27B91.55%A dog carries a person across a river to another world. See motif I27.
A22B91.29%The sun and its companion burn up. The companion burns in a less intense fire (is thrown into the ashes, etc.); therefore, the moon (or star) is cold. See motif A22.
L2691.28%During the (first) initiation, supernatural beings teach boys rituals and kill them for violating rules related to the consumption and distribution of food.
M12191.28%A louse or other similar creature (flea, tick, firefly) is sent to follow a certain character.
K30A91.27%The wife of the first ancestor flies away with the vultures (usually voluntarily, after she has already cheated on her husband), and the chief (Uito: her brother) brings her back. See motif K30.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 12 traditions: Abkhaz, Abkhazians, Kalmyk, Khakas, Shor, Lower Chehalis, Upper Chehalis, (Lower) Cowlitz, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Kofan, Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Barasana, Taibano, Macuna, Desana, Siriano; Tatuyo, Bara, Tuyuca, Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Machiguenga


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