Pele (mythology)

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In Hawaiian mythology, Pele is a goddess of fire, lightning, dance, volcanoes and violence, a daughter of Haumea and Kane Milohai. She lives on Kīlauea.

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[edit] The story

Her father exiled her (from her homeland, Honua-Mea in Tahiti) because of her bad temper, most recently for fighting with her elder water-goddess sister Na-maka-o-Kahaʻi (Namaka), whose husband Pele had seduced. She sailed from Tahiti in a canoe guided by her shark-god brother Kā-moho-aliʻi, and was followed by her still-angry elder sister. Every time she landed on an island and created a new volcanic home, it was flooded out by Na-maka-o-Kahaʻi. Finally, the epic battle ended near Hana, Maui, where Pele was torn apart by her sister. Legend says her bones still remain as a hill called Ka-iwi-o-Pele.

Upon death, she became a god and found a home on Mauna Kea, on the Island of Hawaiʻi. Pele is known for her violent temper, but also for her common visits among mortals. She is said to appear either as a tall, beautiful young woman or as a very old, ugly and frail woman. She is often accompanied by a white dog and typically tests people by asking if they have any food, drink and in more recent times, rides to another part of the island. Those who show kindness are rewarded and spared. Those who are cruel or disrespectful are punished by way of having their homes or crops destroyed. When enraged she may appear as a woman all aflame or as pure flame.

Pele also loves attending social dances, and is known for great jealousy and vengeance when she doesn't get her man. Stories of Pele encounters are common campfire tales. Her presence can be found around the Kīlauea Volcano and Halemaʻumaʻu Crater in the form of Pele's tears (tear-shaped lava droplets), Pele's hair (babyfine golden strands of volcanic glass), and limu o Pele (thin sheets or flakes of volcanic glass).

Pele is also said to curse Hawaiʻi visitors who return to their homeland with volcanic rock. This is an urban legend, stemming from a story made up by park rangers at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park in order to preserve the park. However, many lava rock pieces are shipped back to Hawaiʻi from around the world from people who claim to have experienced horrible misfortune since removing the rocks, accompanied by letters asking for Pele's forgiveness.

After her battle with Na-maka-o-Kahaʻi, she found new enemies in the snow-goddess Poliahu whom she fought over Mauna Kea with, and the fertility god Kamapuaʻa, her sometimes lover.

[edit] Relatives

Pele's other prominent relatives are:

[edit] Trivia

  • The pop musician Tori Amos named an album Boys for Pele in her honor. A single lyrical excerpt from the song "Muhammad My Friend" makes the only musical connection, "You've never seen fire until you've seen Pele blow." Many listeners believe the album title is an allusion to an erroneous, historically incorrect myth that young men were once sacrificed to Pele—thus the title, the sacrificial “boys for Pele.”
  • Simon Winchester, in his book Krakatoa, stated about the Pele myth: "Like many legends, this old yarn has its basis in fact. The sea attacks volcanoes – the waters and the waves erode the fresh laid rocks. And this is why Pele herself moved, shifting always to the younger and newer volcanoes, and relentlessly away from the older and worn-out islands of the northwest."
  • In 2004, American composer Brian Balmages composed a piece entitled "Pele for Solo Horn and Wind Ensemble" on commission by Jerry Peel, professor of French Horn at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. It was premiered by the University of Miami Wind Ensemble under the direction of Gary Green, with Jerry Peel on Horn.
  • Pele is mentioned in the song "Hot Lava" by Perry Farrell on the South Park Album.
"And after the eruption, we lay dormant for a while
Let's just hold each other and talk,
For now, Pele sleeps"

[edit] See also

Pere, a Cook Islands goddess

[edit] External links

[edit] References

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