Tangaloa (Tongan mythology)

Tangaloa (Tongan mythology)

Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tongan mythology. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of Havea Hikuleʻo and Maui, or in some sources the brother or son or father of them. He was Tangaloa ʻEiki (T. lord), and was assigned by his father, Taufulifonua, the realm of the sky to rule.

Among his offspring the following are found: Tangaloa Tamapoʻuliʻalamafoa, Tangaloa ʻEitumātupuʻa, Tangaloa ʻAtulongolongo, and Tangaloa Tufunga. But different sources disagree about the exact family relations between any Tangaloa. Tangaloa Tufunga (T. carpenter) was known as an adze maker. Tangaloa ʻEitumātupuʻa is known in Sāmoa as Tagaloa Eitumatupua (T. ghost and riddle; an eitu or aitu is a second rank god of somewhat malevolent nature).

Contents

ʻEitumātupuʻa

A big toa ('ironwood tree) reaching into the sky grew on the island of Toʻonangakava between Talakite[1]. Tangaloa ʻEitumātupuʻa climbed down from the sky and saw a beautiful woman shellfishing. Her name was ʻIlaheva also known as Kohai, Koau, mo Momo. Because of their murder his elder brothers, if they wanted to go down too, would have to serve him.

See also

Tangaloa, (or a variant of this name conforming to the local vernacular) is found in many other Polynesian mythologies. Interestingly he may have exchanged functions with his cousins Hikuleʻo and Maui, or other gods seemingly at random in different places.

Notes

  1. ^ In the lagoon of Tongatapu, nowadays there is only a 2 m wide channel between Mataʻaho and Talakite, Toʻonangakava having disappeared.
  2. ^ Nowadays this hill is where the New Zealand high commission residence is located.

References

  • E.W. Gifford, Tongan myths and tales, BPB Bulletin 8, 1924
  • R.D. Craig, Dictionary of Polynesian Mythology (Greenwood Press: New York, 1989), 100.

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