Rata, in
Tahiti
Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...
an mythology, is said to have become king of Tahiti when his uncle, king
Tumu-nui
Tumu-nui is the name of several figures in Tahitan mythology.
In the creation myth of the Society Islands, Ta'aroa
Ta'aroa is the supreme creator god in the mythology of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. While the use of the ʻeta is ap ...
, and his father
Vahieroa (Tahitian mythology) {{Short description, Mythological son of wife
In Tahitian mythology, Vahieroa is a son of Tafa'i and his wife Hina, and is born at his father's house in the Tapahi hills of Mahina in north Tahiti. He weds Maemae-a-rohi, sister of the ruling chief ...
are swallowed by a great clam while they are on their way to Pitcairn. When he reaches adulthood, Rata plans to avenge his father. As in the Tuamotuan version, Rata identifies a tree to build his canoe, but it is protected by forest elves. After he captures them they build it for him in a single night. While en route for Pitcairn, Rata and his crew are sucked down into the same clam, but they use their spears to cut the monster open. They rescue the remains of Rata's father and uncle and bury them back in Tahiti. After recovering from their adventure, Rata sets out for further adventures. See also
Aremata-Popoa and Aremata-Rorua In the Tahitian story of Rata 'Aremata-Popoto ("tidal wave") and 'Aremata-Roroa ("long wave") are two ocean-dwelling monsters that Rata must overcome.
See also
*Rātā (Māori mythology)
In Māori mythology, accounts vary somewhat as to the ances ...
.
See also
*
Rata (Tuamotu mythology) In the Tuamotu islands, the telling of the full cycle of the legend of Rata takes several evenings to tell.
The legend begins with his grandfather Kui, a demigod who marries Puehuehu. Their son Vahi-vero was stolen by two wild ducks that carry hi ...
*
Rātā (Māori mythology)
In Māori mythology, accounts vary somewhat as to the ancestry of Rātā. Usually he is a grandson of Tāwhaki and son of Wahieroa. Wahieroa is treacherously killed by Matuku-tangotango, an ogre. Rātā sets out to avenge the murder, travelling to ...
*
Laka
In Hawaiian mythology, Laka is the name of two different popular heroes from Polynesian mythology. (In other parts of Polynesia they are known as Rātā, Rata, Lata, Ata, or Lasa).
In one Hawaiian legend, Laka is the son of the '' Ali'i nui'' W ...
(Hawaiian and other Polynesian mythology)
References
*R.D. Craig, ''Dictionary of Polynesian Mythology'' (Greenwood Press: New York, 1989), 133-4;
*M. Beckwith, ''Hawaiian Mythology'' (Yale U.P.: New Haven, 1948), 263–275.
Tahiti and Society Islands mythology
Legendary Polynesian people
Legendary rulers
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