Tama-nui-te-rā
In Māori mythology, Tama-nui-te-rā (Tamanuiterā) is the personification of the Sun.
Etymology
In the Māori language, Tama-nui-te-rā means "Great Son of the Sun". The Māori word for "sun" or "day" is rā, deriving from Proto-Polynesian *laqaa.
Legends
Hero Māui decided that the days were too short and caught Tama-nui-te-rā with a snare, then beat him to make him travel more slowly across the sky.
Family
In some legends Tama-nui-te-rā is the husband of Ārohirohi, goddess of mirages. In other legends, Tama-nui-te-rā had two wives, the Summer maid, Hineraumati, and the Winter maid, Hinetakurua.
The child of Tama-nui-te-rā and Hineraumati, Tane-rore, is credited with the origin of dance.[1]
Another son of Tama-nui-te-ra is Auahitūroa, god of comets and fires, and grandchildren of Tama-nui-te-rā are Ngā Mānawa.[2]
See also
Bibliography
- J. White, The Ancient History of the Maori. Volume II. Government Printer: Wellington, 1887, 136–137, 151–152.
Notes
- ^ Best, Elsdon (7 October 1901). "The Diversions of the Whare Tapere: Some Account of the various Games, Amusements, and Trials of Skill practised by the Maori in Former Times". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
- ^ E. Best, Māori Religion and Mythology, Part 2 (Dominion Museum Bulletin No.11. Museum of New Zealand: Wellington, 1982), 244-245.
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