Polynesian Mythology
Also known as: Mythology of Polynesia
A 19th-century compilation of Polynesian myths collected and translated by Sir George Grey, presenting cosmogonies, genealogies, and heroic traditions across Polynesia.
Description
Polynesian Mythology, collected and translated by Sir George Grey, offers one of the earliest comprehensive presentations of Polynesian myths in English. First published in 1855, the work includes cosmogonic accounts, divine genealogies, and heroic tales drawn from oral traditions of New Zealand Māori and related Polynesian cultures. Grey’s compilation sought to preserve indigenous traditions at a time of colonial transformation, though it inevitably reflects 19th-century translation and editorial biases. The work was influential in shaping subsequent Western understanding of Polynesian mythologies, introducing figures such as Tāne, Tangaroa, Rangi and Papa, and Māui to broader audiences. It remains a critical but mediated source for Polynesian mythic traditions.
Historiography
Sir George Grey compiled and translated oral narratives during his tenure as Governor of New Zealand, working with Māori informants and manuscripts. Published in 1855, it was one of the earliest major English-language collections of Polynesian myth. The text reflects colonial-era mediation, as Grey arranged and standardized diverse traditions into a Western literary format. It has been both praised for preservation and criticized for distortions introduced through translation and editorial framing.
Date Notes
Compiled and translated by Sir George Grey based on oral traditions recorded in New Zealand and other Polynesian islands in the mid-19th century
Major Characters
- Māui
- Tangaroa
- Tāne
- Rangi
- Papa
- Hina
- Tāwhirimātea
Myths
- Rangi and Papa—Separation of Sky and Earth
- Māui Fishing up the Islands
- Māui Snaring the Sun
- Tāwhaki’s Ascent to the Heavens
- Hina and the Moon
Facts
- First published in 1855 by Sir George Grey.
- One of the earliest comprehensive English translations of Polynesian myths.
- Collected primarily in New Zealand with Māori informants.
- Contains cosmogonies, divine genealogies, and heroic tales.
- Features Māui’s famous exploits such as fishing up land and slowing the sun.
- Introduced Rangi and Papa’s separation myth to Western audiences.
- Criticized for colonial mediation and imposed narrative structure.
- Remains influential in Polynesian studies despite translation issues.