The Mythology and Folklore Database
I53 - An insect annoys the support of the earth.
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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
An insect or other small creature bothers the animal that supports the earth, so the animal moves and the earth shakes (or, conversely, the animal is afraid to move because of the insect).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
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| F14 | 95.62% | The hero is born as a result of the union of a man with a stone or rock. |
| E41A | 95.38% | The first ticks were made as a result of observing animals (a dog's crossed paws, two snakes, snake jaws, etc.). |
| M114C | 95.28% | The character is puzzled as to how the other person's clothes (firewood, etc.) remained dry after the rain – the other person covered them with their body (hid them in a vessel, waited out the rain in a shelter). |
| I51A | 95.13% | The earth is supported by or has a large mammal at its centre. See motif I8B. |
| M171C | 95.04% | At the request of a character, another character removes a thorn from his body (cuts off the tip of his tail, etc.). The thorn (tip of the tail) disappears, or when it is removed, the character is wounded. As a result, he receives something more valuable than what he has lost. |
| L37B3 | 95.04% | From the birds' conversation, humans learn that their bodies or secretions have miraculous properties. |
| L72G | 95.00% | Fleeing for his life, the character throws salt behind him, preventing his pursuer from continuing the chase. |
| K90A | 94.77% | Seeing two snakes of contrasting colours fighting, a man tries to strike one, but accidentally hits the other. The relatives of this snake gather to punish him, but upon learning what happened, they reward him. |
| M29Z1 | 94.58% | purely anthropomorphic character, or a character who bears the name of an animal or plant but does not act zoomorphic in the course of his adventures. See the motives in square brackets. {Data not fully entered} |
| K27R | 94.47% | The person giving the task requires an item or message to be brought from the world. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 13 traditions: Minangkabau; Kerinci, 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, Northern Taiwan: Atayal (Tayal; Taruko (Toda, Taokas, Torok, Taroko), Pazeh, Sedeq (Sediq, Seedeq, Sazek), Saisiyat (Saixia), Bengali, Early Chinese written sources, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Uzbek, Abkhaz, Abkhazians, Ingush, Armenians, Anatolia Turks, Kurds, Talysh