TAMA-NUI-TE-RA
Maori Sun God 🌞
Also known as Tama-Nui-Te-Rā, Tamanuiterā
The super soaraway speeding Sun
He is the blazing sun. Apart from that claim to fame, he had several encounters with the tricksy Maui.
First he rescued a half-drowned Maui from the ocean and took him into foster care. Tama-nui-te-ra cared for Maui until he was fully grown and then let him go on his way.
But that wasn’t the last he saw of him. One day Maui heard the mortals complaining that the days were passing too quickly. “We hardly have time to catch our food and eat it,” they said. So Maui determined to fix the problem at source.
He ambushed his poor old foster parent Sun, tied him up with ropes and beat him severely with a massive jawbone. “Slow down, Pops!” he yelled. “What’s the rush?” Such gratitude.
Poor old Tama-nui-te-ra begged for mercy and was only released when he promised to travel more slowly across the sky. Nowadays he hobbles at a much more leisurely pace. But still not slowly enough for some of us.
Tama-nui-te-ra Facts and Figures
Name: Tama-nui-te-ra
Pronunciation: Coming soon
Alternative names: Tama-Nui-Te-Rā, Tamanuiterā
Gender: Male
Type: God
Area or people: Maori people of Polynesia
Celebration or Feast Day: Unknown at present
Role: 🌞
In charge of: the Sun
Area of expertise: Sun
Good/Evil Rating: NEUTRAL, may not care
Popularity index: 10376
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Article last revised on April 30, 2019 by the Godchecker data dwarves.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders
References: Coming soon.