Rongo

The patron god of Mangaia (Gill 1876), god of agriculture and the sacred drum, and of war. Younger twin of Tangaroa, given precedence by Vatea. Worshipped at Akaoro (inland) and Orongo (coastal) marae.

Parentage

• Vatea
• Papa

Domains

• agriculture and the taro
• war
• tutelary of mangaia

Powers

• grant the fertility of the taro and the land
• grant victory in war and demand the sacrifice

Relations

• twin sibling: Tangaroa
• sibling: Tane
• sibling: Tangiia
• sibling: Tonga-iti
• equated with: Rongo
• equated with: Lono
• equated with: Ro'o
• equated with: Rongo
• equated with: Rongo
• equated with: Ono

Sources

• William Wyatt Gill, Myths and Songs from the South Pacific (1876), Ch. I, pp. 12–14, and Ch. XV
• Robert D. Craig, Dictionary of Polynesian Mythology (1989), s.v. 'Rongo'