Tangaroa
Tangaro is the son of Ranginui and brother of Rongo, Tūmatauenga, Haumia, and Tane
Papatuanuku and the Tangaroa is the god of the sea. Tangaroa was attacked by his brother Tawhirimatea (the god of storms.) And so he was forced to live at sea.
The contention between Tangaroa and Tāne, the father of birds, trees, and humans, is an indication that the Māori thought of the ocean and the land as opposed dimensions. When people go out to sea to fish or to travel, they are in are representatives of Tāne entering the dimension of Tāne's enemy. And so it is important that offerings were are given to Tangaroa before any such adventures.
No comments:
Post a Comment