legions and myths
2007-03-30 03:10:46 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Maui was a demi-god, who lived in Hawaiiki. He possessed magic powers that not all of his family knew about.
One day when he was very young, he hid in the bottom of his brothers' boat in order to go out fishing with them. Once out at sea, Maui was discovered by his brothers, but they were not able to take him back to shore as Maui made use of his magic powers, making the shoreline seem much further away than it was in reality.
So the brothers continued rowing, and once they were far out into the ocean Maui dropped his magic fishhook over the side of the waka. After a while he felt a strong tug on the line. This seemed to be too strong a tug to be any ordinary fish, so Maui called to his brothers for assistance.
After much straining and pulling, up suddenly surfaced Te Ika a Maui (the fish of Maui), known today as the North Island of New Zealand. Maui told his brothers that the Gods might be angry about this, and he asked his brothers to wait while he went to make peace with the Gods.
However, once Maui had gone his brothers began to argue among themselves about the possession of this new land. They took out their weapons and started pounding away at the catch. The blows on the land created the many mountains and valleys of the North Island today.
The South Island is known as Te Waka a Maui (the waka of Maui). Stewart Island, which lies at the very bottom of New Zealand, is known as Te Punga a Maui (Maui's anchor), as it was the anchor holding Maui's waka as he pulled in the giant fish.
2007-03-30 03:17:59 · answer #1 · answered by varrious_deception 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Field Museum in Chicago has a really cool exhibit on Maori culture, including a Maori lodge that was rebuilt inside the museum.
I posted some links on the Maori below (the first site has legends).
2007-03-30 13:25:57 · answer #2 · answered by coyote 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you mean "Maori" as in New Zealand.
They believe in Ta'arora and Tu. These two are God and Goddess of the world. The belief about that relationship is reminiscent of the Christian idea of Christ arguing in our favor with God.
The wife (goddess) pleads to have mercy on the humans in times when he (the husband/god) has been angered by their selfishness or other sins. The result is always a compromise.
For example: When the god decided that humans should be punished with total darkness at night, the goddess got him to compromise by giving them a moon.
The Maori culture is basically Polynesian. Their language is closely related to Hawaiian. Their story after the white man is very much like that of Native Americans over here.
A large proportion of the population is at least part Maori. This is why many New Zealanders are much darker complected and have slightly different features that British folks in Europe
2007-03-30 10:57:27 · answer #3 · answered by Jahosaphat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
th first answer is about the maori equivalent to hercules!!!
jahosaph's tu and ta'arora isnt a maori myth or legend. Tu was god of war/man tangaroa (ta'aroa) was god of the sea, both are male. their brother are Tane, Tawhirimatea, Rongo, Haumeatiketike and Ruaumoko. These seven made up the main gods. papatuanuku and rangi were like gaea and ouranus
2007-04-02 21:59:56 · answer #4 · answered by onelazyhori 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know much, except they do a lot of tattooing. Most Maoris I have seen have tattooed faces. I think English sailors may have gotten the idea of tattoos from the Maoris.
2007-03-30 11:00:47 · answer #5 · answered by majnun99 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋