The Mythology and Folklore Database
I28 - Animals underground, F127.




169 Myths, Legends and Folktales
167 Unique Narratives for Motif I28
24 Cultures & Traditions where I28 is told
220 Mythemes Indexed
1 Sub-Motifs of Motif I28


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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

Wild or domestic animals live inside a mountain, in a cave or in the underground world, or once came out of there into our world; often animals take on human form underground and have an owner. See motif H18.

Berezkin category: Supernatural objects, objects and creatures

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 3, Cosmogony, the earth and the sky, etiology of the elements, natural and biological phenomena (fire, water, soil, thunderstorms, dream, etc.), cataclysms and cosmic threats, spirits of nature


I28 has 1 other sub-motifs


I28.  Wild or domestic animals live inside a mountain, in a cave or in the underground world, or once came out of there into our world; often animals take on human form underground and have an owner. See motif H18.
I28a.  Large animals that are hunted go underground and cause earthquakes.

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
L5C94.30%The monster head pursues celestial bodies, people, or attaches itself to someone else's body. See motif L5.
C3493.86%The flood begins after people kill (harm, maim) some kind of creature (usually aquatic).
K1093.07%A monstrous bird (bat) attacks people, heroes engage in battle with it. See motifs K10A – K10G.
E2392.79%A handful of fleas or lice must be thrown at the character; only this will make him or her move, which is necessary for revival or for the existence of people.
M8A92.73%Animals, and more often birds, find it difficult to break through a rock from the outside or inside, make a hole in the tree, in the body of an absorber creature, tear fetters, etc., to help a character or get out of the confined space by yourself. The list <b><i>includes</i></b> groups whose texts deal with the exit of the first ancestors to earth from a confined space.
B2992.63%People turn into animals, birds or stones, living beings acquire their current characteristics at a general meeting, festival, after a festival, after performing a ritual or after defeating a common enemy.
L7092.48%The character is killed or maimed by an object dropped from above, the fall of which he expects, but has a false idea of its nature or weight (fruit, piece of bark, turtle, log, etc.).
L4892.27%The hero (usually somewhere on high ground - on a tree, rock, at the edge of a precipice or well) kills and/or throws one of his opponents down from there. The other opponents do not recognise their comrade and believe that the slain man is the hero they are pursuing.
H1291.50%The living visit the afterlife to bring back the dead (except for texts about a shaman bringing back the soul of a sick person), or, without a specific goal, go there accompanied by or following in the footsteps of the recently deceased.
I1790.91%Creatures without mouths, anuses, or genitals, unable to give birth, live underground, in the sky, across the sea, or in certain areas. (Traditions describing women unable to give birth are marked with an asterisk*).

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 24 traditions: Oromo (Galla), Konso, Sidamo, Darasa, Bussa (Bassa), Kambata, Guji, Yao, Makua, Malawi (incl Nyanja, Banyanja, Manganja), Tumbuka (incl Henga), Nsenga, Matengo, (Ba)Wenda, Kikuyu, Chuka, Embu, Emberre, Mwimbe, Sakata, Herero (Herrero), Tswana (Chwana), Suto (Soto; incl Pedi, Mbire), Sandawe, Papua-NewGuinea Highland Papuans:Trans New Guinea & unclassified:Chimbu,Gimi,KaugelHuli,Gadsup,Kuman,Kutubu,Foi (Foe),Kyaka,Kamano (Kafe),Mawatta,Kukukuku (=Anga,=Sambia;Manki,Nauti,Ejuti),Baruya,Kewa,Tembregak,Menya,Melpa,Wiru,Pondoma, Sepik-Ramu stock: Abelam, Yatmul, Aibom, Ayom (incl Tembregak, Asai-river pygmies), Tangu, Porapora (Ambakich), Rao and other groups of Middle Ramu and Upper Keram River tribes; Kwanga, Watam, Kaian, Gamei, Awar; Kire (Lower Ramu), Melanesians of southeastern New Guinea: Mekeo, Motu, Sinagoro, Koita (Koitapu), Mukawa (Are), Wagawaga, Taupota, Awaiama, Gelaria, Goodenough Bay, Bartle Bay, Wedau (Wamira village), Northern Halmahera Papuans: Galela, Loda, Pagu, Modole, Tabaru (Tobaru), Tobelo, Tidore, Ternate, Dhanwar, Lepcha, Basques, Western Sami, Sarsee (Tsuu T'ina), Nez Perce, Yana, Upland Yuma: Walapai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Guajiro, Botocudo, Scythians, Scythe, Greenland


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