Polynesian Mythology - Myth Encyclopedia - god, legend, war, world, creation, life, hero, people, children Polynesia is a vast region of the Pacific Ocean consisting of many hundreds of widely separated, culturally and politically diverse island groups. Ranging from Midway and Hawaii in the north to New Zealand in the south, the triangular area called Polynesia also includes Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Tuamotu, the Cook Islands, and the Pitcairn Islands. Although the mythology of Polynesia took different forms on various islands, many of the basic stories, themes, and deities were surprisingly similar throughout the region. Foundations of Religion and Myth. Scholars believe that humans first migrated to Polynesia from Southeast Asia about 2,000 years ago. These people carried with them their mythological traditions about events, deities, and heroes. Polynesian religion and mythology placed great emphasis on nature, particularly the ocean environment. Because mana was sacred, Polynesians invented complicated rules to protect it. Origin of Yams deity god or goddess Major Gods and Characters.
Polynesian culture | History, Religion, Traditions, & Facts | Britannica Polynesian culture, the beliefs and practices of the indigenous peoples of the ethnogeographic group of Pacific islands known as Polynesia (from Greek poly ‘many’ and nēsoi ‘islands’). Polynesia encompasses a huge triangular area of the east-central Pacific Ocean. The triangle has its apex at the Hawaiian Islands in the north and its base angles at New Zealand (Aotearoa) in the west and Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in the east. It also includes (from northwest to southeast) Tuvalu, Tokelau, Wallis and Futuna, Samoa (formerly Western Samoa), American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia (Tahiti and the other Society Islands, the Marquesas Islands, the Austral Islands, and the Tuamotu Archipelago, including the Gambier Islands [formerly the Mangareva Islands]), and Pitcairn Island. The physical environment of the Polynesian islands is not as favourable for human habitation as it might at first seem. Polynesian cultures have been radically altered by Western colonialism.
Hawaiian Myths and Legends Hawaii is full of myths and legends - stories that are full of passion, betrayal, loyalty, birth and death. According to W.D. Westervelt, one of the most famed re-tellers of Hawaiian myths and legends back in the early 1900s, some of these myths and legends were very similar to the stories told in Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand and other islands in the Pacific Ocean. These Hawaiian stories tell the tales of gods and men, ghosts and goblins. The four main gods (akua) are Ku, Kane, Lono and Kanaloa. Hawaiian Gods of the Myths and Legends This is only a partial list of the many Hawaiian gods. Kane: Father of living creatures. Ku: God of war. Kanaloa: God of the underworld and a teacher of magic. Lono: God of agriculture. Pele: Goddess of the volcanoes, as well as fire, lightning and wind. Hina: Goddess of Moon. Laka: Goddess of the hula. Kuula: God of fishermen. Papa: Fertility goddess. Poliahu: One of the four goddesses of snow.
Religion in Hawaii - Living in Hawaii - Moving to Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island Over more than six years in Hawaii I didn’t meet many people that were overtly, devoutly religious. It seems like the people in the islands, in general, are extremely happy to be living in paradise on earth and they’re not looking for whatever paradise might be found in religion. That said, there are churches all over the islands – and some Buddhist temples as well. Mainlanders coming over to Hawaii are either atheist, agnostic, or Christian – again, speaking in generalities. Hasidic Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others all have a presence in Hawaii. Nearly ½ of Hawaii’s residents practice some form of Christianity – meaning, Catholic, Christian, Protestant, etc. Far east religions play an important role – Buddhism, Shinto, Hinduism, Islam, and other spiritual practices are all found on the islands. Religious followers in Hawaii are distributed as follows (data by religious establishments themselves):
Egyptian Mythology - Myth Encyclopedia - god, story, names, ancient, tree, animal, snake, world, Roman, creation Bordered by deserts, Egypt's Nile River valley was relatively isolated from other centers of civilization in the ancient Near East for thousands of years. As a result, Egyptian religion remained almost untouched by the beliefs of foreign cultures. The religion included a large and diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses, and around these deities arose a rich mythology that helped explain the world. pantheon all the gods of a particular culture deity god or goddess Conquest by the Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great in 332 B . Pyramids were built to honor the powerful kings of Egypt and to give them a home and provisions in the afterlife. Cults and Deities Religion and religious cults played a central role in all aspects of ancient Egyptian society. Role of the King. The idea of order, or ma'at, was a basic concept in Egyptian belief, reflecting such notions as truth, cooperation, and justice. cult group bound together by devotion to a particular person, belief, or god
Japan Geography Location Japan consists of several thousands of islands, of which Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku are the four largest. Japan's closest neighbors are Korea, Russia and China. The Sea of Japan separates the Asian continent from the Japanese archipelago. Area Japan's area is comparable to that of Germany or California. Population The population of Japan is about 125,000,000, including approximately three million foreign residents. Earthquakes and Volcanoes Because Japan is located in a region, where several continental plates meet, the country experiences frequent earthquakes. Climate Due to the large north-south extension of the country, the climate varies strongly in different regions. Geography Related Pages
Ulukau: Hawaiian mythology 117, 119, 121–129, 376, 378, 528; lands of the deified, 67–69, 76–77, 79, 162; underworld divisions for, 155, 160–161; ruler of, 118, 155; entrance to underworld, 155–158; processions of the, 164 Death, origin of, 45, 163, 323–324; cause of premature, 163, 274; phrase for, 369; renewal of life lost, 236 Digging-stick, 69 Disguise, of champion, 397–399, 414, 415, 417 Divining, priesthood for, 109, 359, 366; with water gourd, 145, 286, 366, 437, 528; with pebbles, 89 Dodder, origin of, 445 Dogs, native, 424; mythical, 43, 71, 436, 449, 491, 500; dog men, 343–347; Kuilioloa, 347–349; Pupualenalena, 343–347 Drum, brought by Laʻa, 356, 359; at cutting of navel cord, 377, 395; at procession of the dead, 164; used by Menehune, 327 Dwarfs (pilikua), 71, 338, 345, 449 Eating, contest in South Sea legend, 251, 271 Eeke, summit crater of West Maui, 189 Eight, as magic number, 205, 209–210, 229, 233, 388 Eleeleualani, grandfather of Papa, 307, 363–364, 393 Eleio, story of, 151–152, 384; chief at Kauiki, 380
Hawaii Weather | Weather in Hawaii | Go Hawaii Weather in The Hawaiian Islands is very consistent, with only minor changes in temperature throughout the year. There are really only two seasons in Hawaii: summer (kau) from May to October and winter (hooilo) from November to April. The average daytime summer temperature at sea level is 85° F (29.4° C), while the average daytime winter temperature is 78° (25.6° C). Temperature & Climate Zones The islands are an incredible collection of diverse micro-environments, each with its own unique weather plants and animals. Rainfall & Trade Winds Throughout the year, Hawaiian weather patterns are affected primarily by high-pressure zones in the north Pacific that pump cool, moist trade winds down onto the islands’ northeastern slopes. The wettest months are from November to March, but winter rains do not generally disrupt vacation plans, since the weather is very localized. The Hawaiian Islands’ trade winds mean there is almost always a cooling breeze here.
worldpopulationreview Egypt, known officially as the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country which spans the southwest corner of Asia and the northeast corner of Africa. This is made possible through a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. Most of Egypt is located in North Africa. Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. Egypt Area and Population Density Cairo alone, which is the capital city of Egypt, has a population of around 10.902 million people (according to estimations made in 2009). Largest Cities in Egypt After Nigeria and Ethiopia, Egypt is the most populated country on the African continent. Egypt Demographics Ethnic Egyptians account for 91% of the total population. The official language is Arabic, while other widely understood and spoken languages by the upper classes include English and French. Approximately 2.7 million Egyptians are found living abroad, as estimated by the International Organization for Migration. Egypt Population History
Japan - Demographic trends Japan’s population distribution is highly variable. The mountainous character of the country has caused the population to concentrate within the limited plains and lowlands—notably along the Pacific littoral. The increased population there, however, was absorbed into the expanding urban areas, while the population of rural districts declined considerably; this had the effect of further concentrating population in a limited area. Japan experienced spectacular population growth after 1868; the population increased nearly fourfold since then. This increase was directly related to slow but steady urban growth; the development of Hokkaido, Tōhoku, and southern Kyushu; and the introduction of commercial agriculture. In 1920, when the first precise census was conducted, the population was nearly 57 million. The rapid rehabilitation of industry after 1950 resulted in the continued concentration of population in the Pacific coastal areas.
Haiti | History, Geography, & Culture Haiti is bordered to the east by the Dominican Republic, which covers the rest of Hispaniola, to the south and west by the Caribbean, and to the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Cuba lies some 50 miles (80 km) west of Haiti’s northern peninsula, across the Windward Passage, a strait connecting the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Jamaica is some 120 miles (190 km) west of the southern peninsula, across the Jamaica Channel, and Great Inagua Island (of The Bahamas) lies roughly 70 miles (110 km) to the north. Haiti claims sovereignty over Navassa (Navase) Island, an uninhabited U.S.-administered islet about 35 miles (55 km) to the west in the Jamaica Channel. The generally rugged topography of central and western Hispaniola is reflected in Haiti’s name, which derives from the indigenous Arawak place-name Ayti (“Mountainous Land”); about two-thirds of the total land area is above 1,600 feet (490 metres) in elevation. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content.