Tama-nui-te-rā

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In Māori mythology, Tama-nui-te-rā is the personification of the Sun.[1]

Māui decided that the days were too short and caught Tamanui-te-rā with a snare, then beat him to make him travel more slowly across the sky. 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, Hine-raumati, and the Winter maid, Hine-takurua. The child of Tama-nui-te-ra and Hine-raumati, Tane-rore is credited with the origin of dance.


[edit] Bibliography

  • J. White, The Ancient History of the Maori. Volume II. Government Printer: Wellington, 1887, 136-137, 151-152.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ In the Māori language, Tama-nui-te-rā means 'Great son the Sun'. The Māori word for 'sun' or 'day' is rā, deriving from Proto-Polynesian *laqaa.
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