![[Flood Myths IMAGE]](fludmys.jpg)
Last Updated:Wednesday, February 21st, 1996
South Seas Flood Myths
Fiji:
Two grandsons of the god Ndengei killed a favorite bird of that god and rather than apologizing, defied Ndengei to do his worst. In their fortress, the rebels withstood Ndengei's armies, but they were finally overwhelmed when Ndengei caused the earth to be flooded. They prayed to another god for direction, and they were brought canoes. [Kelsen, in Dundes]Palau Islands:
Before humans, one of the Kaliths (deities) visited an unfriendly village and was killed by its inhabitants. His friends, searching for him, were met with unkindness except from the woman Milathk, who told them of the death. They resolved vengeance by flooding the village, and suggested Milathk save herself on a raft. Milathk perished in the flood, but was recalled to life and became the mother of mankind. [Kelsen, in Dundes]
Tahiti:
A sea god, angered because a fisherman had lowered hooks which got entangled in his hair, caused a flood which covered all but the tops of the mountains. [Roheim, in Dundes]
Samoa:
In a battle between Fire and Water (offspring of the primeval octopus), everything was overwhelmed by a 'boundless sea', and the god Tangaloa had the task of re-creating the world. [Poignant]
New Hebrides:
Tilik and Tarai, who lived near a sacred spring where they were making the land, discovered that their mother had been urinating in their food. They exchanged the food and ate hers. In anger, she rolled away the stone which had confined the sea, and the sea poured out in a great flood. [Roheim, in Dundes]
Return to main page