Rongorongo (mythology) explained

Rongorongo
Birth Date:14th century?
Birth Place:Polynesia
Spouse:Turi
Children:Tāneroroa
Father:Toto

Rongorongo is an ancestress from Ra'iātea Island (Hawaiki) in Māori tradition, particularly of the Ngā Rauru, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine, Taranaki, and Whanganui iwi.[1] She was the wife of Turi, the chief of the Aotea canoe which was given to Rongorongo as a present by her father Toto.[2] After Rongorongo overheard Uenuku chanting incantations of Turi's murder,[3] Turi and his people fled to New Zealand in the Aotea and arrived at the mouth of the Patea River.[1]

In te reo, rongorongo holds meaning to the concepts of news, fame, and report; or it can be a verb (-hia, -na) to describe experiences such as hearing, smelling, and feeling.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Turi – 1966 Encyclopedia of New Zealand. . 21 May 2020.
  2. Book: 1891 . The Maori-Polynesian comparative dictionary . Tregear, Edward . Edward Tregear . 426 . Wellington, N.Z., Lyon and Blair . 21 May 2020.
  3. Book: 1854 . Polynesian Mythology and Ancient Traditional History of the New Zealanders . Grey, George . George Grey . 151–152, 162 . 21 May 2020.
  4. Web site: rongorongo – Māori Dictionary. John C Moorfield. 21 May 2020.