Koevasi
Sa'a & Ulawa · deity · Sa'a & Ulawa traditional religion; continuing · Recorded classification
Koevasi is the female creator-serpent (vigona) of Florida in the central Solomons, the maker of humankind, and the classic parallel recorded by Codrington to the Ulawa creator-snake Kahausibware within the shared Solomonic complex of serpent figona. In the myth of the origin of death she could renew her youth by casting her skin; when her young grandchild failed to know her and wept, she resumed her old skin, and from that time human beings grow old and die while she alone keeps the power of renewal. She is included as the northern member of this creator-serpent complex; her home tradition is that of Florida (Gela).
Domains
- creation
- mortality and death
- serpents and snakes
Powers
- renews her youth by casting her skin
Sources
- Koevasi is the female creator-serpent (vigona) of Florida in the central Solomons, the maker of humankind.: R. H. Codrington, The Melanesians (1891), section on the vigona of Florida. (primary)
- In the origin-of-death myth she could renew her youth by casting her skin; when her grandchild failed to recognise the young form and wept, she resumed the old skin, and thereafter humans grow old and die.: R. H. Codrington, The Melanesians (1891). (primary)