Tinilau
Encyclopedia
Polynesian mythology
Polynesian mythology is the oral traditions of the people of Polynesia, a grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island archipelagos in the Polynesian triangle together with the scattered cultures known as the Polynesian outliers...
of Samoa
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...
, stories about Tinilau (or Tigilau) and his wife Sina are very popular. There are numerous legends, and much variation in the tellings (Tremewan 2002:157). Here are some examples:
- Tinilau lends his two turtles to ‘Ae, a Tongan. When he gets home, ‘Ae kills the turtles and has a great feast for his people. When a bloody wave washes up on the beach, Tinilau calls a meeting of all the avenging gods of Savaii. The gods go to TongaTongaTonga, 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...
and pick 'Ae up, and return him to the house of Tinilau. When ‘Ae wakes up, he hears the rooster crowing, and it reminds him of the one he heard when he was staying with Tinilau. 'Ae, not knowing that he is in Tinilau's house, begins talking about “the pig, my master”. At once he is killed and eaten (Tregear 1891:110, Tremewan 2002:157).
- ‘Ae of Tonga comes to visit Tigilau and returns with Tigilau’s two turtles, Toga, whom he kills, and Utuutu, who gets away. A demonDemoncall - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
named Supa catches ‘Ae and brings him back to Samoa to be killed by Tigilau (Tremewan 2002:157).
- Sina rejects offers of marriage from the kings of Tonga and FijiFijiFiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, instead seeking out Tigilau, who lives with his many wives. One day, Tigilau goes out fishing, and one of the jealous wives steals Sina’s soul. To get it back, Tigilau travels to the sun (Tremewan 2002:157).
- The fishFishFish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
for the wedding feast of Sina and Tigilau are swallowed by one of Tigilau’s other wives. Tigilau blames Sina and banishes her to the forest with two servants. When he hears what has happened to his sister, Lupe flies to her home, his arrival throwing the whole land into shadow. He presents fine mats as gifts for her wedding. Sina sings a song complaining about her harsh treatment, asking to be taken away. Tigilau overhears and kills his wives, telling Lupe that he wants Sina to return to him. When he visits his son in a house near to Sina’s, he becomes jealous when he sees how many suitors are visiting Sina. At last, Sina returns to live with Tigilau for her son’s sake (Tremewan 2002:157).
See also
- KinilauKinilauIn Hawaiian mythology, Kinilau is the son of Menehune son of Luanu’u. Hawaiians claim descent from the youngest of the twelve sons of Kinilau-a-mano .-References:...
- Hawaii - TinirauTinirauIn Polynesian mythology, stories about Tinirau are found throughout the islands of Polynesia. He is a guardian of fish. Many themes recur in the various versions...
- Tinilau in other parts of Polynesia - Tinirau and KaeTinirau and KaeIn Māori mythology, Tinirau is a guardian of fishes. He is a son of Tangaroa, the god of the sea. His home at Motutapu is surrounded with pools for breeding fish. He also has several pet whales....
- Māori - Sinilau, Kae (and Longopoa)Kae and LongopoaThe story cycle around Kae and Sinilau is a well known entity in Polynesian mythology, found back on several places . This article describes the Tongan version, of which the main source is an old poem published in 1876, and some other, incomplete manuscripts.The third player Longopoa in this...
- Tonga - Sina and the EelSina and the EelSina and the Eel is a myth of origins in Samoan mythology which explains the origins of the first coconut tree.In the Samoan language the legend is called Sina ma le Tuna. Tuna is the Samoan word for 'eel'....
- Mata o le AleloMata o le AleloMata o le Alelo is a village pool in Samoa associated with the Polynesian legend Sina and the Eel.Mata o le Alelo is in the small village of Matavai, in the village district Safune on the central north coast of Savai'i island in Samoa....