Berezkin Analytical Catalogue · Motif
A16 — Dangers on the path of the sun.
Source data for narratives and traditions is drawn from Berezkin’s Analytical Catalogue. If you use this data, please acknowledge and link to it: Ю.Е. Березкин, Е.Н. Дувакин. Тематическая классификация и распределение фольклорно-мифологических мотивов по ареалам. Аналитический каталог.
Summary of motif
OverviewEvery night, the sun passes by creatures or objects that try to swallow or destroy it.
Berezkin category: The Sun and Moon
This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part of group 1, Sun and Moon.
Top 10 motifs with similar dispersal patterns
Phylogeny| Motif | Similarity | Motif summary |
|---|---|---|
| A3 | 94.01% | The Moon is female or hermaphroditic, the Sun is male or, possibly, male. |
| I45B | 93.76% | If you point your finger or stare intently at a rainbow, you will fall ill, or the finger you pointed with will rot or wither away. |
| L14 | 90.02% | People bring a small creature (usually a worm or reptile) into their home and raise it, or it settles into a man-made dwelling on its own. The creature turns into something terrifying or magnificent. See motif L13 (raised monster attacks people). |
| I16 | 88.87% | Early humans have no mouth, anus, or genitals, and their women are unable to give birth. |
| L13 | 88.76% | People feed a dangerous creature, or it grows on its own in a man-made enclosure. Once it becomes big and strong, it starts to destroy people. |
| B41 | 88.65% | Because the dog spread certain information, argued with its owners, and spoke at inappropriate times, it lost the gift of speech. |
| I72 | 88.34% | Stars – anthropomorphic beings. See motif K19 (marriage to a star). Cases where the Star is a unique object, e.g. Venus, rather than one of many Star-people, are not included. |
| G8 | 88.31% | People or animals cut or gnaw at a tree, mountain, or pillar of the sky. The damage disappears as soon as the workers are distracted from their task (usually when they take a break) or periodically (at certain times). |
| A11A | 88.24% | The visible sun or moon are their eyes; if the eyes of the luminaries were not damaged, it would be much brighter and hotter. |
| A12D | 87.36% | Birds attack the sun or moon during an eclipse (covering them with their wings) or (*) cover the sun during sunrise or sunset. See motif A12. |
See the 100 most similar distributions →
Map of motif dispersal
DistributionDrag the map to pan, use the scroll wheel to zoom — choose a texture or projection below
Cite this map
Distribution of the traditions attesting motif A16, ‘Dangers on the path of the sun.’, as recorded in the Berezkin–Duvakin Analytical Catalogue of Folklore Motifs (32 traditions mapped). Geolocation and cartography by Jonathan Fielder-White, Folklore Database, release 1.26206.1 (25 July 2026), https://www.folkloredatabase.com/motif/A16 (accessed 8 August 2026). Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Traditions
32 recordedThis motif has been recorded in 32 traditions: Chagga (Jagga; incl Wasu), Pare, Digo, Rwanda (incl Hutu, Tutsi, Kiga), Rundi, (Ma)Shi, Banyabungu; Rega, Tswana (Chwana), Suto (Soto; incl Pedi, Mbire), Bushmen (all groups), Society Islands: Tahiti, Borabora, Raiatea, Palau (Western Carolines), Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Mentawai, Mindanao and Sulu: Blaan (Bilaan), Bagobo, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Hiligáynon, Binukid, Magindaan (=Magindanao: main Muslim population), Mandaya, Mansaka, Manobo (Agusan, Ata, Dibabawon, Sarangani, Ilianen), Maranao, Samal, Subanon (=Subanun), Subanen, Tboli, Karen, Pa-O, Padaung, Kayah, Semang, Senoi, Western Ukrainians, Laks, Armenians, Ainu, Yuchi, Alabama, Koasati, Western Keres (Acoma, Laguna), Eastern Keres (Cochiti, Sia, San Felipe, Santo Domingo, Santa Ana, Paguate, Seama), Huichol, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Popoloca; Tlapanec, Lacandon, Choco: Embera, Nonama (Waunana), XVI century Dabaiba, pre-Columbian iconography of Sinu, Colorado (Tsachila), Cayapo (incl. Kubenkranken, Pau d’Arco, Shikrin or Xikrin), Apinaye (Apinage, Apinaje), Eastern Ukrainians, Northern Ukrainians, Egypt, China, Palau
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How to cite: Fielder-White, Jonathan (2026). The Folklore Database. https://folkloredatabase.com
0009-0006-1672-4451
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