Nafanua
Samoan · deity · mythic · Recorded classification
Nafanua, the great war-goddess of Pulotu and of Falealupo on Savaiʻi — daughter of the eel-lord Saveasiʻuleo and of Tilafaiga (the tatau-twin), hidden at birth from her devouring father. She ascends with her four toa-wood war-clubs (Tafesilafaʻi, Faʻauliulitō, Ulimasao, Faʻamategataua) to free the oppressed, and prophesies to Malietoa Faʻiga 'Wait upon heaven for a crown for your kingdom.' Typed deity (child of two deities) despite the popular 'demigod' label. Documented by Krämer, Stair and Turner (secondary).
Parentage
- father: SaveasiʻuleoDaughter of the eel-lord of Pulotu, who hid her, reared her, and armed her.A. Krämer, Die Samoa-Inseln (1902/03); G. Turner, Samoa (1884): Nafanua, daughter of Saveasiʻuleo (secondary)
- mother: TilafaigaHer mother Tilafaiga concealed the pregnancy and buried the afterbirth in the earth to save her from Saveasiʻuleo.A. Krämer, Die Samoa-Inseln (1902/03): Tilafaiga (sister of Taema, the tatau-twins) as the mother of Nafanua (secondary)
Domains
- war and battle
- prophecy and oracular pronouncement
- sovereignty and the bestowal of titles
- healing and knowledge of plants
Powers
- Wield the four toa-wood war-clubs in battle, breaking the lines of the enemy
- Utter binding war-prophecies and confer or withhold the kingdom
- Lead and embolden armies, the patron war-power of the western districts
Relations
- father: SaveasiʻuleoDaughter of the eel-lord of Pulotu, who hid her, reared her, and armed her.A. Krämer, Die Samoa-Inseln (1902/03); G. Turner, Samoa (1884): Nafanua, daughter of Saveasiʻuleo (secondary)
- mother: TilafaigaHer mother Tilafaiga concealed the pregnancy and buried the afterbirth in the earth to save her from Saveasiʻuleo.A. Krämer, Die Samoa-Inseln (1902/03): Tilafaiga (sister of Taema, the tatau-twins) as the mother of Nafanua (secondary)
Sources
- existence: A. Krämer, Die Samoa-Inseln (1902/03; Eng. The Samoa Islands), the Nafanua cycle (secondary); J. B. Stair, Old Samoa (1897); G. Turner, Samoa, a Hundred Years Ago and Long Before (1884) (secondary)
- war-goddess-with-the-toa-clubs-and-prophecy-to-malietoa: A. Krämer, Die Samoa-Inseln (1902/03): the toa-wood war-clubs and the prophecy 'Faʻatali i lagi se ao o lou mālō' (secondary)