Ao (mythology)

Ao (daylight) is one of the primal deities who are the unborn forces of nature in Māori mythology. Ao is the personification of light, clouds, and the ordinary world, as opposed to darkness (Pō) and the underworld.[1]:14

For the Chinese legendary creature, see Ao (turtle).

He is spoken of under many forms or manifestations, including Aotūroa (enduring day, this world)[2] and Aotahi (bright day, world of light and life).[1]:14 With his companions Ata (morning) and Whaitua (space) Ao resists the forces of darkness.[1]:14

Genealogy

Ao appears evolving through the forms Aonui, Aoroa, Aowheneke, Ao-whetara out of the darkness as part of the great cosmological genealogies in Te Arawa's traditions, as part of the creation of the universe.[1]:667

Aonui, Aoroa, Aopouri, Aopotango, Aowhetuma, Aowhekere, Aokahiwahiwa, Aokanapanapa, Aopakakina, Aopakarea, and Aotakawe were also the names of the atua who were the storm clouds, the children, of Tāwhirimātea, which were sent to punish his brothers after the separation of his parents, Rangi and Papa.[1]:15

In a version recorded from Hūkiki Te Ahukaramū, a Ngāti Raukawa chief, Te Ao was born out of Te Ata, which itself came from the darkness.[3] Ao's last form in Hūkiki's version is Te Ao Mārama.[3] A version given by the Kāi Tahu of Moeraki is similar.[4]

Pan-Polynesian

In Tahiti, Aonui was Tāne's residence in the sky, and Aoaomaraia was the discoverer of fire; a similar role is taken on by Māui in other parts of Polynesia.[1]:14[lower-alpha 1]

See also

References

Notes
  1. Edward Tregear suggested that in some Polynesian areas, Ao may have been another name of Atea, Avatea, or Vatea.[1]:14

Sources
  1. Tregear, Edward (1891). The Maori-Polynesian comparative dictionary. Lambton Quay, Wellington: Lyon and Blair. p. 14. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  2. "Aoraki/Mount Cook: DOC's Maori role". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  3. Royal, Te Ahukaramū Charles (2005). "Māori creation traditions: Common threads in creation stories". Te Ara Enyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  4. Shortland, Edward (1856) [1854]. Traditions and Superstitions of the New Zealanders. London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans & Roberts. p. 56. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
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