21 Facts About Melanesian mythology

1.

Melanesian mythology refers to the folklore, myths, and religions of Melanesia, a region in Southwest Oceania that encompasses the archipelagos of New Guinea, the Torres Strait Islands, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji.

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2.

From an anthropological point of view, the population of the Melanesian mythology area is composed of a number of different historical populations .

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3.

Melanesian mythology then threw a fruit at one of them, which transformed the man into a woman.

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4.

Melanesian mythology's covered them up, and after several days they burst, one producing a man and the other a woman, who became the parents of the human race.

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5.

Melanesian mythology's laid the two strips of pandanus covered with her blood in a heap of refuse which she intended to burn; but after a time the pile began to swell, and when she was about to set fire to it, she saw that two boys had grown from her blood—from the blood of her right arm, To-Kabinana, and from that of her left arm, To-Karvuvu.

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6.

Melanesian mythology's kept the hole concealed under a cover of tapa cloth, and though her two sons repeatedly asked her whence she obtained the salt water, she refused to answer.

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7.

Melanesian mythology heard that in the country of Vava there was night, so he went there to meet i Qong, and bought night from him.

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8.

Melanesian mythology then told his brothers to lie down and shut their eyes, and to not be afraid.

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9.

Melanesian mythology caught much fish and returned the next day with the people of his village whom he had told of his discovery; and they were very successful, while one woman even laid hold of the great eel, Abaia, who dwelt in the depths of the lake, though he escaped her.

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10.

In how far we are justified in attributing one set of myths to the older Papuan stratum and another to the later Melanesian mythology layer is very difficult to say, since but little from the purer Papuan tribes of the area has as yet been recorded.

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11.

One of the most noteworthy features of Melanesian mythology is the prominence of tales relating either to two culture heroes, one of whom is wise and benevolent, while the other is foolish and malicious; or to a group of brothers, usually ten or twelve in number, two of whom, one wise and one foolish, are especially outstanding.

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12.

One of the most characteristic features of Polynesian mythology is the prominence of the Maui cycle; and if we compare these Polynesian tales with the Melanesian stories of the wise and foolish brothers, there is a suggestion of some sort of relationship between them.

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13.

Melanesian mythology's was glad that her son now had a companion, and all three lived happily together.

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14.

Melanesian mythology came daily to give it food, but when he had gone, the boys would eat part of the sow's provisions, and so they grew, and their skins and hair were fair.

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15.

Melanesian mythology failed to bury the wounded fish, but killed them, and when the cannibal asked him to call his brothers, there was no reply.

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16.

Melanesian mythology yearned to play with them, and making for himself a dart, he ran toward them, singing his charm and casting his missile.

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17.

Melanesian mythology saw them take off their wings, stole one pair, and hid them at the foot of the main pillar of his house.

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18.

Melanesian mythology then returned and found all fled but the wingless one, and he took her to his house and presented her to his mother as his wife.

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19.

Melanesian mythology's heard the sound, took up her wings, and flew back to heaven.

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20.

Melanesian mythology tried to throw his corpse into the first house, but it struck against the closed door and fell down again; so he picked it up and cast it at the next with like result.

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21.

Melanesian mythology tried them all until he came to the last house, in which the old woman lived; and here, because the door was open, the ghost succeeded and threw his body into the house.

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