Automatic detection of mythological motifs with similar spatial distribution and distributional clusters of motifs

Abstract

A new method is proposed for analyzing spatial distributions of mythological motifs aiming to answer the following question,"Which motifs have the same or similar spatial distribution compared to a given motif?". The theory behind the method is explained along with its advantages compared to previously used approaches. Spatial analysis of several motifs from Yu.Ye. Berezkin’s catalogue of mythological motifs is presented as a case study.