Yu.E. Berezkin, E.N. Duvakin

Thematic classification and distribution of folklore and mythological motifs by area

Analytical catalogue

Introduction
Bibliography
Ethnicities and habitats

I46E. Rainbow sword .12.13.17.28.29.

A rainbow is a sword that cuts a weapon.

West Africa. Bambara [rainbow is 'God's sword'; 'my father's sword']: Vydrin 1999:40.

Sudan - East Africa. Malgashi [God's son was allowed to descend from heaven, but there is nothing below; then God threw a bunch of stars, cut it with his rainbow sword; large pieces became mountains, places where God struck, with valleys, fine dust with plains]: Haring 1982, No. 1.1.02:77.

Western Asia. Central Saudi Arabs ['rain sword']: Leslau 1988:432

Central Europe. Russians (Simbirsk) [riddle: "Through thirty-three enemies/A red (golden) sword stretched out" (rainbow)]: Sadovnikov 1876, No. 1895:236.

Caucasus - Asia Minor. Balkarians: Jertubayev 1991 [rainbow - "divine (or heavenly) sword"]: 140; Malkonduev 2017 ["Tairi's Sword" {the author translates as "the Teiree arc", but only to avoid choosing between others meanings}; the word kylych in modern Balkarian means "sword, saber", "rocker", "bolt"; {the main Turkic meaning is still "knife, sword", and with a rocker arm and even more so a bolt, the rainbow is nowhere associated}]: 133; Avars (Botlikhtsy) [alla h ashub kharchamu 'rainbow' (letters. 'god's saber')]: Dirr 1909:107.