Ono

'Ono (Marquesan reflex of pan-Polynesian Rongo/Lono) personifies Sound in the cosmogony: arising from Atea (Light) after the conquest of Tanaoa, he destroys Mutu-hei (Silence); from these two struggles the dawn-goddess Atanua arose. In legendary tradition 'Ono (as 'Ono-tapu) defeats the god Tohetika. Handy notes that, like Tane, 'Ono was not a major cult-god of Hiva but a prominent figure of the oral narratives (Native Culture p. 247).

Domains

• sound

Powers

• Bringing of sound into the world

Relations

• enemy: Mutu-hei
• ally: Atea
• enemy: Tohetika
• equated with: Rongo
• equated with: Lono
• equated with: Ro'o
• equated with: Rongo
• equated with: Rongo
• equated with: Rongo

Sources

• E. S. Craighill Handy, The Native Culture in the Marquesas (Bishop Museum Bulletin 9, 1923) — names 'Ono among the great narrative figures (p. 247) and as the conqueror of Tohetika; Roland B. Dixon, Oceanic Mythology (Mythology of All Races vol. 9, 1916), ch. I.