The Mythology and Folklore Database
I11 - Cosmic turtle/toad.
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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
The turtle (toad, frog) serves as a support (embodiment) of the earth (sky), or the supports of the sky are made from its body.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
I11 has 2 other sub-motifsI11. The turtle (toad, frog) serves as a support (embodiment) of the earth (sky), or the supports of the sky are made from its body. I11a. Describes how, in the process of creation, the earth is placed on the back of a turtle or frog, which becomes its support. I11b. The pillars of the sky are made from the legs of a four-legged animal (usually a turtle). Click here if would you like to see a distrbution map combining all of I11's motifs? |
Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns
| Motif | Similarity | Motif Summary |
|---|---|---|
| C6H | 94.61% | The insect brings soil (from the bottom of the sea or from somewhere far away). |
| A6 | 93.10% | The sun and moon are considered female characters (including cases – Tuscarora, Oneida, when the gender is not directly specified, but both arise from the body of a female character). |
| H43A | 92.87% | Having created the human body, the creator leaves. At this time, another character tries to break the figure, which has not yet come to life. |
| K77A | 91.62% | Various objects and animals (rarely: only animals, but including those that are safe in reality) defeat a strong enemy (usually joining the hero who is going to take revenge on the strong enemy for an insult and hiding in the house where the enemy is supposed to appear), attacking him in turn; he dies or flees. Either someone or the attacked character himself places objects in his dwelling that then harm that character. |
| K56D1 | 91.43% | A pumpkin or watermelon (grown from gifted seeds) given to a person turns out to contain treasures. |
| B116C | 91.40% | In the past, the people possessed writing and knowledge, but these were lost, or the people missed the opportunity to acquire them. |
| M29W2 | 91.23% | As a result of its stupidity or antisocial behavior, the tiger dies or suffers damage. See the motives in square brackets. |
| A2A1 | 91.13% | At first, the moon was as bright and hot as the sun. |
| B43 | 91.12% | Elements of the landscape or parts of the universe are created from the body of the original being. |
| M130A | 91.11% | A trickster lures an animal into a hunter's trap. Another animal advises the victim to pretend to be dead and helps it escape. |
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Map of Motif Dispersal
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This motif has been recorded in 39 traditions: Fula (Fulbe, Fulani, Pular), Melanesians and Papuans of Central Solomons: Vella la Vella (Bilua language), Shortland islands (Mono language), San Cristobal, Saint Georgia, Eddystone, Vangunu, Wa (incl Kawa), Bulang, Bondo, Didayi (Gata'), Gutob (=Gadaba; cf Dravidian-speaking Gadaba), Tamil, Muthuvan, Marvar, Tamils, Bengali, Marathi (incl. Bhamta; incl. Mumbai area), Gujarati, Early Chinese written sources, Lepcha, Bulgarians, Balkarians, Byelarusians, Belarusians, Karachays, Balkar, Kalmyk, Buryats: Western (cis Baikal), Oirats (incl Torgouts, Derbets, Oilots), Mongols (Khalkha), Tuvinians of Tuva, Tuvans, Shor, Southern Altai: Altai proper (Altai-Kiji), Telengit, Altaians, Tungus (Evenki): Baikal region, Evenks, Tanana, Lenape (Delaware), Five Nations Iroquois (Seneca, Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga), Tuscarora, Shawnee, Arapaho, Mandan, Plains Ojibwa, Maidu, Nisenan, Konkov, Sierra Miwok, Warihio (Guarijío), Tarahumara, Aztec; Aztec and Teotihuacan iconography, Kogi (Cagaba), Sanha, Creols of Aritama Valley, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Xipaya, Sherente, Central Tibetans (Yu Tsang, incl. Sikkim Tibetans, Tichurong of NW Nepal), China