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On One Rapanui and Two Marquesan Rock Pictures new. gif

by Sergei V. Rjabchikov

1. Several rongorongo glyphs are engraved among birdman figures - the feature of the solar cult of the deity Makemake - on a rock at Mata Ngarau, Orongo, on Easter Island (Lee 1992: 69, figure 4.41). They are 30 34 38 Ana ra'a RA'A 'The sun shines'.

2. Let us study signs depicted on the left side of a panel at Eiaone valley of the island Hiva Oa, the Marquesas (Edwards and Millerström 1995: 15, figure [panel EIA-75h]). The sign corresponding to rongorongo glyph 34 raa (cf. Rapanui ra'a, Marquesan a, Maori ra 'the sun') and the sign corresponding to glyph 4 atua (cf. Rapanui atua, etua, Marquesan etua 'deity') meet. The figure of a shark is united with the figure of a person. Glyph 4 ('deity') and glyph 61 Hina 'the moon goddess' are represented near them. I believe that it is a story about the god Tini-rau and the goddess Hina. This god was the lord of all fish; he was closely connected with whales; one his side was human and the other was piscine (Andersen 1969: 246; Reed 1963: 146; Luomala 1955). Amongst the figures which are presented here, one can read the string 6 74 103 a Tini-pe as well. It is a variant of the standard name Tini-rau. The latter signifies 'The zenith (the sun deity) produces', this proper name is preserved in the Rapanui place name Tini-e-pu with the same meaning (Rjabchikov 1998: 6). The word pe of the name Tini-pe compares with Rapanui hakapee no kai hoao 'abundance'.

3. Let us study signs depicted on the upper part of a panel at Eiaone valley of the island Hiva Oa, the Marquesas (Edwards and Millerström 1995: 9, figure [panel EIA-75g]). Here two figures are depicted: these are the moon glyph 61 and a strange animal (a dog?) with eight paws. I have realised this myth! It is a story known in New Zealand: Ira-waru, the husband of Hina, was changed by her brother, Maui, into a dog (Andersen 1969: 209; Reed 1963: 144-5) (1). A key to the picture is Maori waru 'eight'.

NOTE

1. See also Rjabchikov 1998: 10.

REFERENCES

Andersen, J.C., 1969. Myths and Legends of the Polynesians. Rutland, Vermont and Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Company.

Edwards, E. and S. Millerström, 1995. Peintures rupestres de la vallée de Eiaone à Hiva Oa. Bulletin de la Société des Etudes Océaniennes, 267: 5-17.

Lee, G., 1992. The Rock Art of Easter Island. Symbols of Power, Prayers to the Gods. Los Angeles: The Institute of Archaeology Publications (UCLA).

Luomala, K., 1955. Voices on the Wind. Polynesian Myths and Chants. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press.

Reed, A.W., 1963. Treasury of Maori Folklore. Wellington - Auckland: A. H. and A. W. Reed.

Rjabchikov, S.V., 1998. Tayny ostrova Paskhi. Vol. 7. Krasnodar: Stil.


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