The Mythology and Folklore Database
B46B - Seven Star Sisters.




17 Myths, Legends and Folktales
17 Unique Narratives for Motif B46B
14 Cultures & Traditions where B46B is told
0 Mythemes Indexed
5 Sub-Motifs of Motif B46B


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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

Each of the seven main stars of the Big Dipper is a separate female character. {Included in the online database, but not in the correlation table in *sav)}.

Berezkin category: The Origins of the Characteristics of the environment

This is of motif type Cosmology and etiology and is part group 2, Moon spots, stars, constellations


B46 has 5 other sub-motifs


B46.  Each of the seven stars of the Big Dipper is an adult male.
B46a.  One of the stars of the Pleiades was separated from the others (usually stolen by the stars of the Big Dipper and identified with Alcor).
B46a1.  The stars of the Big Dipper – thieves or robbers.
B46b.  Each of the seven main stars of the Big Dipper is a separate female character. {Included in the online database, but not in the correlation table in *sav)}.
B46c.  Each of the stars of the Big Dipper is a separate character (people or animals).
B46d.  Men, each of whom excels others in a particular art, turn into stars.

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
M39A593.54%fool led the goats to the fruit tree and killed them because they ate the fruit he had thrown.
M198B393.34%A supposed fortune teller accidentally finds the missing items, is rewarded and brought close to the ruler. One day, for some reason, he rudely pushes him (or people in general) out of the room. Immediately afterwards, the roof of the building collapses. Since then, no one has doubted the fortune teller's abilities.
K27Z992.14%(Dried) fish (water, satyr, etc.) laughs, smiles or spits. The reason is that there is a man dressed as a woman in the house.
K88C91.52%The character learns that the blood (brain, etc.) of the dog guarding the neighbouring herd will cure the princess (prince). He uses this medicine and is rewarded.
L37B491.52%From a conversation between spirits or animals, a man learns that the meat (brain, blood) of a neighbouring shepherd's dog has miraculous properties.
K56191.50%A poor man brings his master a chicken (goose, etc.) as a present. The master asks him to divide the bird appropriately among the members of his household. The poor man does it considering the symbolic meaning of particular parts (gives the master the head, his daughters the wings, etc.) and receives rich compensation. A neighbor brings the master five chickens but is unable to divide them approppriately. The first man does it again.
K33F91.48%Sources of at least two valuable liquid edible products (honey, oil, etc.) are available or imagined. Cf. motif N34.
I13E90.37%The snake agrees to let the man go on condition that he does not tell anyone about their meeting. Under threat of death, the man breaks his promise. The snake teaches him to drink a broth made from its flesh and takes revenge not on the man, but on those who forced him to break his word.
F70F90.15%Finding themselves in a deserted place, people accidentally change their gender.
I4E89.60%An anthropomorphic deity (associated with thunder and rain) rides on a cloud or a cloud.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 14 traditions: Saudi Arabia, Arabs of Levant (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan); Bedouins of Sinai, Kafir, or Nuristani: Prasun; Kati (incl. Paruni), Ashkun (Ashunu), Waigali, Miao (Hmong) and Yao of Southern China, Greeks (modern), Balkarians, Tats, Armenians, Kazan (Middle Volga) Tatars, Bashkirs, Chuvash, Tofa (Karagas), Winnebago, Kiowa, Yuki (Yuki proper, Coastal Yuki, Huchnob)


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