In Samoan mythology, Mafuie is the god of

earthquake An earthquakealso called a quake, tremor, or tembloris the shaking of the Earth's surface resulting from a sudden release of energy in the lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from those so weak they ...

s. He dwells in the volcanic regions below the

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...

, and has only one arm. Mafuie was also the keeper of

fire Fire is the rapid oxidation of a fuel in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction Product (chemistry), products. Flames, the most visible portion of the fire, are produced in the combustion re ...

. Tiitii, a

demigod A demigod is a part-human and part-divine offspring of a deity and a human, or a human or non-human creature that is accorded divine status after death, or someone who has attained the "divine spark" (divine illumination). An immortality, immor ...

, won the fire from him in a battle, thus introducing fire to the people of Samoa. Samoan mythology deeply influences cultural practices, with Mafuiʻe representing strength, balance, and ancestral wisdom. His legacy lives on in ceremonies, art, and oral storytelling, helping preserve Samoan heritage across generations. The famous story of Mafuiʻe and Tiʻitiʻi, where fire is given to the people, highlights bravery and continues to shape how Samoans understand natural forces and their cultural identity.

References

Nature gods Samoan deities {{Oceania-myth-stub

See also

References