Mangarevan narrative (or Mangarevan mythology) comprises the legends, historical tales, and sayings of the ancient

Mangareva Mangareva is the central and largest island of the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia. It is surrounded by smaller islands: Taravai in the southwest, Aukena and Akamaru in the southeast, and islands in the north. Mangareva has a permanent p ...

n people. It is considered a variant of a more general

Polynesian narrative The Polynesian narrative or Polynesian mythology encompasses the oral traditions of the people of Polynesia (a grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island archipelagos in the Polynesian Triangle) together with those of the scattered cul ...

, developing its own unique character for several centuries before the 1830s. The religion was officially suppressed in the 19th century, and ultimately abandoned by the natives in favor of Roman Catholicism. The Mangarevan term for god was ''Etua''.

Prominent figures and terms in Mangarevan narrative

* Tu, principal god ** Atu-motua ** Atu-moana ** Atea-Tangaroa * Maui, among the principal gods * Tagaroa, among the principal gods * Tangaroa-Hurupapa, probably synonymous with Tagaroa * Oro, among the principal gods * Tairi * Mamaru * Ari * Rogo, rain deity * Toa-miru, goddess of childbirth * Hina, a savage goddess * Raka, god of the winds * Huruamanu and Paparigakura mentioned as kindly gods living at Hapai * Rao and Tupo were gods of turmeric * Toa-hakanorenore, goddess incarnate in an eel * Toa-huehuekaha, goddess appearing in soiled clothing * Rekareka, god of pleasure * Ru-te-ragi, god of the stars * Makuputu, the god of the souls of deceased mortals * Haumea, consort of Tagaroa * Tiki, The first man * Mauike, fire goddess * Poaru, the underworld * Po-porutu and pouaru, the heaven of happiness * Po-garepurepu and po-kine, the heaven of darkness, of fear and dread

References

* * * * * * {{Paganism Mangareva

Prominent figures and terms in Mangarevan narrative

See also

References