The Mythology and Folklore Database
L28A - Eating a snake causes a flood.




31 Myths, Legends and Folktales
30 Unique Narratives for Motif L28A
11 Cultures & Traditions where L28A is told
74 Mythemes Indexed
1 Sub-Motifs of Motif L28A


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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

People (or a certain person) eat the meat of a snake (dragon, unusual fish). This results in a flood, landslide, or the appearance of a river or lake.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

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


L28 has 1 other sub-motifs


L28.  A person who eats unusual or forbidden meat or fish, or touches something forbidden, turns into a reptile or a fish.
L28a.  People (or a certain person) eat the meat of a snake (dragon, unusual fish). This results in a flood, landslide, or the appearance of a river or lake.

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
K10B95.03%A huge bird carries away to its nest a cage, bag or other container in which people are located. See motif 10A.
M56A94.36%A weak character hits a crocodile, but the crocodile is safe. He says he would be killed if the attack hit a specific location. Next time, the same character hits this place and kills a crocodile.
L3093.47%The one who broke the food taboo experiences terrible thirst and drinks a huge amount of water.
I80A88.27%Upon meeting the Thunders, a person becomes one of them.
E3387.20%People arise from grains, seeds, dough.
F3686.50%(Adopted) children of a woman or man kill the lover (or spouse of non-human nature) of their father or (adoptive) mother.
E3486.31%The cannibal is killed. From his ashes arise musical instruments taboo for women, used in male rituals.
G386.25%Cultivated plants or fertile soil for their cultivation are hidden inside the rock. Birds or thunder gods pierce a hole in the rock.
B2B84.57%The earth feeds on the people buried in it. See motif B2A.
I8E84.55%The sky or the earth is supported by four anthropomorphic male characters located at the four cardinal points.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 11 traditions: Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria, Menominee, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Gros Ventre, Tzutujil, Paya (Pech), Sumu, Misquito, Bribri, Cabecar, Terraba; Chiriqui (AD 800-1500) iconography, Napo (Quijo), Kanelo (“Jungle Kechua”), Kofan, Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Aguaruna, Huambiza


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