The Mythology and Folklore Database
L48 - Demons devour their own kind.




54 Myths, Legends and Folktales
53 Unique Narratives for Motif L48
31 Cultures & Traditions where L48 is told
124 Mythemes Indexed
0 Sub-Motifs of Motif L48


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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

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.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Monsters and evil spirits

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



Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
K1096.86%A monstrous bird (bat) attacks people, heroes engage in battle with it. See motifs K10A – K10G.
C3495.75%The flood begins after people kill (harm, maim) some kind of creature (usually aquatic).
L5C95.73%The monster head pursues celestial bodies, people, or attaches itself to someone else's body. See motif L5.
F34B95.53%A girl, woman or group of women voluntarily take as their lover a penis that exists as a special creature, snake, moray eel, lizard, worm, crab, large aquatic animal or aquatic monster, or large terrestrial mammal. People kill or maim the lover, the woman and/or her offspring, or she herself loses her human nature. The woman's behaviour is condemned.
F5395.53%An unattractive man marries, but hides his face. When he is seen, the marriage is dissolved.
F3594.38%A character offers another person the meat of his sexual partner, and the other person, unaware, eats or cooks it.
B2994.10%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.
F3393.92%A woman or group of women take a water animal or water monster as their lover. The husband(s), brother(s) or (adopted) children of the woman(s) kill or maim the lover and (in some cases) the woman(s).
M1193.75%The character gives others food extracted from his or someone else's body or contaminated with bodily secretions, without revealing the source of the food.
F5193.75%Someone under cover of night/incognito approaches a person of the opposite sex. The marriage partner deliberately (to determine who it is) or accidentally (thereby exposing the visitor) makes a mark on his/her body (clothing). See motif A31.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 31 traditions: Mbundu (Umbundu, Kimbundu, Chimbundu, Ovimbundu), Kwanyama, Owambo (=Ambo), Toraja (Toradja), To Mori, Baree (=Eastern Toraja), Eastern Arunachal Pradesh: Abor (incl Minyong, Shimong, Padam, Pasi, Panggi), Apa Tani (Apatani), Bori, Bugun, Dafla (=Nyishi, Nisi, Nishing, incl Tagin), Gallong (=Galo, Adi), Mishmi, England, British, Bretons, Tutchone, Tagish, Beaver, Sauk (Sak, Mesquakie), Fox, Kickapoo, Blackfoot, Wichita; Spiro Mound iconography, Plains Cree, Crow, Klamath, Modoc, Tunica, Upland Yuma: Walapai, Havasupai, Yavapai, Navajo, Jicarilla, Zuni, Tzutujil, Cuiva, Pemon: Arekuna (incl. Kamarakoto), Taulipang (Taurepan), Colorado (Tsachila), Shuar, Achuar (Shiwiar), Aguaruna, Huambiza, Letuama, Tanimuca, Ufaina, Yahuna, Kabiyari, Yukuna (Yucuna), Nambikwara, Paresi, Caraja, Botocudo, Biloxi


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