Tangaloa (Tongan mythology)
Encyclopedia
Tangaloa was an important family of gods in Tonga
n mythology
. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of Havea Hikuleo
and Maui
, or in some sources the brother or son or father of them. He was Tangaloa Eiki (T. lord), and was assigned by his father, Taufulifonua, the realm of the sky to rule.
Among his offspring the following are found: Tangaloa Tamapoulialamafoa
, Tangaloa Eitumātupua, Tangaloa Atulongolongo, 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 Eitumātupua is known in Sāmoa
as Tagaloa Eitumatupua (T. ghost and riddle; an eitu or aitu
is a second rank god of somewhat malevolent nature).
tree) reaching into the sky grew on the island of Toonangakava between Mataaho and Talakite. Tangaloa Eitumātupua climbed down from the sky and saw a beautiful woman shellfishing. Her name was Ilaheva
also known as Vaepopua for the village were she came from. They cohabitated and the god went back up. He returned and they slept and he went up, many times. One day they overslept and a tern flying over saw them and woke them up. Therefore one island is called Tala-kite (tern-see) and the other Mata-aho (Eye-of-day).
Ilaheva became pregnant are bore a son. After a while the god returned down from the sky and told her to name him Ahoeitu
(day has dawned). Then, when the woman answered him that her place was sandy, he said he would throw some clay down from the sky so she could make a plantation for their child. So the hill Holohiufi (pour the yam) was made and the heketala (slip tern, a kind of yam) was planted. Then the god did no longer return.
Ahoeitu grew up and became curious about his father. His mother told him the truth and let him climb the giant toa. In the heavens he found his father and he found he had elder stepbrothers. They did not like him and killed him, but his father resurrected him. Then he spoke that Ahoeitu should go down to earth where he would become the first Tui Tonga
(from divine descent) to replace the Tui Tonga which came from the maggots of Kohai, Koau, mo Momo
.
Because of their murder his elder brothers, if they wanted to go down too, would have to serve him.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n mythology
Tongan mythology
Tongan mythology is a variant of a more general Polynesian mythology in Tonga.-Creation myth:In the beginning there was just the sea, and the spirit world, Pulotu; and between them was a rock called Touiao Futuna...
. The first Tangaloa was the cousin of Havea Hikuleo
Hikule'o
In the mythology of Tonga, Havea Hikuleo is the god of the world, Pulotu. The islands of Kao, Tofua, Hunga Haapai, Hunga Tonga, Late and Fonualei came from stones thrown down from the skies by Hikuleo. They are all volcanic islands...
and Maui
Maui (Tongan mythology)
In Tonga, Maui drew up the Tongan Islands from the deep: first appeared Lofaga and the other Haapai Islands, and finally Vavau. Maui then dwelt in Tonga. Maui had two sons: the eldest, Maui Atalaga, and the younger Kisikisi. The latter discovered the secret of fire, and taught people the art of...
, or in some sources the brother or son or father of them. He was Tangaloa Eiki (T. lord), and was assigned by his father, Taufulifonua, the realm of the sky to rule.
Among his offspring the following are found: Tangaloa Tamapoulialamafoa
Tamapo'uli'alamafoa
In the Polynesian mythology of the Tongan island of Ata, the god Tamapoulialamafoa is the king of the heavens. He is the one who ordered the sub-god Laufakanaa to become ruler of that island.According to others, however, Tangaloa Eiki was the ancestor god and Tangaloa...
, Tangaloa Eitumātupua, Tangaloa Atulongolongo, and Tangaloa Tufunga. But different sources disagree about the exact family relations between any Tangaloa. Tangaloa Tufunga (T. carpenter) was known as an adze
Adze
An adze is a tool used for smoothing or carving rough-cut wood in hand woodworking. Generally, the user stands astride a board or log and swings the adze downwards towards his feet, chipping off pieces of wood, moving backwards as they go and leaving a relatively smooth surface behind...
maker. Tangaloa Eitumātupua is known in Sāmoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
as Tagaloa Eitumatupua (T. ghost and riddle; an eitu or aitu
Aitu
In Polynesian languages the word aitu refers to ghosts or spirits, often malevolent. The word is common to many languages of Western and Eastern Polynesia. In the mythology of Tonga, for example, aitu or eitu are lesser gods, many being patrons of specific villages and families. They often take...
is a second rank god of somewhat malevolent nature).
Eitumātupua
A big toa (ironwoodCasuarinaceae
Casuarinaceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants placed in the order Fagales, consisting of 3 or 4 genera and approximately 70 species of trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics , Australia, and the Pacific Islands...
tree) reaching into the sky grew on the island of Toonangakava between Mataaho and Talakite. Tangaloa Eitumātupua climbed down from the sky and saw a beautiful woman shellfishing. Her name was Ilaheva
'Ilaheva
In the mythology of Tonga, Ilaheva Vaepopua was a mortal woman, the daughter of Seketoa, who was a chief of Tongatapu, or perhaps a god from Niuatoputapu. Or maybe she the daughter from a Niuē chief. It depends on who told the story...
also known as Vaepopua for the village were she came from. They cohabitated and the god went back up. He returned and they slept and he went up, many times. One day they overslept and a tern flying over saw them and woke them up. Therefore one island is called Tala-kite (tern-see) and the other Mata-aho (Eye-of-day).
Ilaheva became pregnant are bore a son. After a while the god returned down from the sky and told her to name him Ahoeitu
'Aho'eitu
In Tongan mythology, or oral history, Ahoeitu is a son of the god Tangaloa Eitumātupua and a mortal woman, Ilaheva Vaepopua. He became the first king of the Tui Tonga dynasty in the early 10th century, dethroning the previous one with the same name but originating from the uanga instead of...
(day has dawned). Then, when the woman answered him that her place was sandy, he said he would throw some clay down from the sky so she could make a plantation for their child. So the hill Holohiufi (pour the yam) was made and the heketala (slip tern, a kind of yam) was planted. Then the god did no longer return.
Ahoeitu grew up and became curious about his father. His mother told him the truth and let him climb the giant toa. In the heavens he found his father and he found he had elder stepbrothers. They did not like him and killed him, but his father resurrected him. Then he spoke that Ahoeitu should go down to earth where he would become the first Tui Tonga
Tu'i Tonga
The Tui Tonga is a line of Tongan kings, which originated in the 10th century with the mythical Ahoeitu; withdrew from political power in the 15th century by yielding to the Tui Haatakalaua; and died out with Laufilitonga in 1865...
(from divine descent) to replace the Tui Tonga which came from the maggots of Kohai, Koau, mo Momo
Kohai, Koau, mo Momo
Kohai , Koau , mo Momo were in the Tongan mythology the first human beings created on earth. They came forth from the uanga...
.
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 Hikuleo and Maui, or other gods seemingly at random in different places.- In SamoaSamoaSamoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
as TagaloaTagaloaIn Samoan mythology, Tagaloa is generally accepted as the supreme ruler, the creator of the universe, the chief of all gods and the progenitor of other gods and humans. Tagaloa dwelt in space and made the Heavens , the sky, the land, the seas, the fresh water, the trees and the people...
. - In MangaiaMangaiaMangaia is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga.-Geography:...
as Tangaroa. - In ManihikiManihikiManihiki is an island in the Cook Islands known as the Island of Pearls. It is a triangular atoll north of Rarotonga.- History :Polynesians are believed to have lived on Manihiki since at least 900 or 1000 AD. Kupe was the first to explore Aotea Roa. Kupe came from Manihiki, also known as...
as Tangaroa keeper of fire. - In HawaiiHawaiiHawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
as KanaloaKanaloaIn the traditions of ancient Hawaii, Kanaloa is symbolized by the squid or by the octopus, and is typically associated with Kāne. It is also the name of an extinct volcano in Hawaii. In legends and chants Kāne and Kanaloa are portrayed as complementary powers...
, symbolized by the squid or hee. - In TahitiTahitiTahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
as Ta'aroaTa'aroaTa'aroa is the supreme creator god in the mythology of French Polynesia. While the use of the 'eta is appropriate given the pronunciation of his name, as is typically the case with Tahitian words it is often omitted in practice.-The Myth:...
. - In Marquesas IslandsMarquesas IslandsThe Marquesas Islands enana and Te Fenua `Enata , both meaning "The Land of Men") are a group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southern Pacific Ocean. The Marquesas are located at 9° 00S, 139° 30W...
, as Tanaoa or Takaoa. - In AotearoaMaori languageMāori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
as TangaroaTangaroaIn Māori mythology, Tangaroa is one of the great gods, the god of the sea. He is a son of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, Sky and Earth. After he joins his brothers Rongo, Tūmatauenga, Haumia, and Tane in the forcible separation of their parents, he is attacked by his brother Tawhirimatea, the god of...
god of the sea.