The Mythology and Folklore Database
N28F - The water has no knots




8 Myths, Legends and Folktales
8 Unique Narratives for Motif N28F
4 Cultures & Traditions where N28F is told
0 Mythemes Indexed
7 Sub-Motifs of Motif N28F


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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

It is said that water has no boughs or twigs

Berezkin category: Fabulous and epic formulas

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part group 13, Formulae


N28 has 7 other sub-motifs


N28a.  The roots (belt) of mountains or stones are mentioned in myths, riddles, spells, and songs as something that does not really exist.
N28b.  In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a ladder or stairway to the sky (variant: a ladder in the sky) is mentioned
N28c.  In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a pillar of the sky is mentioned
N28d.  In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a lid or covering for the sea, ocean or river are mentioned
N28e.  In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a bridge across the sea, ocean or lake is mentioned
N28f.  It is said that water has no boughs or twigs
N28g.  In a list of things that do not exist in the world, a gall of horse or ass is mentioned
N28h.  In a list of things that do not exist in the world, horns of the horse are mentioned

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Top 10 Motifs with similar dispersal patterns

MotifSimilarityMotif Summary
B32A100.00%The enemies of a hero sailing the sea turn into seals or dolphins.
I137100.00%One of the constellations is associated with footwear, usually with (worn-out) bast shoes.
I95B100.00%Orion is a yoke.
K35A7100.00%A character finds a feather, the touch of which brings health and beauty.
K38F3100.00%To kill the dragon, the hero digs a pit and hides in it. When the dragon crawls nearby or over the pit, the hero strikes it with a fatal blow of his sword.
M39A2A100.00%fool buys spoons and/or a table, tells the table to go on its own feet, throws away spoons because they rattle. The two episodes are usually combined.
M39A3B100.00%fool decides that stumps need hats, puts pots on the stumps.
N31100.00%Late autumn and then winter sets in line with the departure of two or three species of birds flying in a wedge (Zugvogel).
N32100.00%The ornithomorphic character is said to be sitting on several trees.
I9599.76%The Pleiades are a sieve or riddle for sifting agricultural products. See motif I95.

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Map of Motif Dispersal

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This motif has been recorded in 4 traditions: Estonians, Karelians, Mari (Cheremis), Chuvash


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