What is a Tiki?
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| Image credit: en.wikipedia.org |
We might have seen the Freaky Tiki episode of Tom n Jerry or might have seen this in many of the comics and movies like Moana. But did we ever wondered what those statues are? Let us find it out...
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| Image credit: pixabay.com |
What is a Tiki?
Tiki is considered to be the first man created by either God of war and hunting, or the God of forests and birds in Maori mythology. Maori are the Polynesian people living in New Zealand, Otaki, Polynesia, Cook Islands and Rapa Nui. By extension, Tiki is a large or small wooden or stone carving in humanoid form, although it is very archaic.
What do legends say about Tikis?
Legends from Maori mythology say that, Tane, God of birds and forests, was finding a wife for himself. But all he found only was non human females and feathered birds, insects and trees. He found the first woman Marikoriko who was the twilight goddess.
The origin of Tiki varies from tradition to tradition. In some traditions of the south west coast of New Zealand, the first human is a woman created by Tane. Her name is Hine-ahu-one. In other legends, Tane makes the first man Tiki and then a wife for him. Some say that Tiki is the son of Rangi and Papa, which is a primal couple in the world creation myths of Maori. In another story, the first woman is Marikorio who marries Tiki and their daughter is Hine-kau-atata.
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| Image credit: en.wikipedia.org |
How is Tiki treated in other traditions?
In Hawaiian culture, Kumuhonua is served as Tiki. In Tahiti, Ti'i is served as Tiki and Ivi as the first woman. In Cook Islands, Tiki is a woman. In Easter Islands, Tiki statues are recognized as Moai.
Tiki is also served to mark the boundaries of significant or sacred Maori sites. They are also involved in many cartoons, movies and comics.
So when you see those statues in cartoons again, you know that they are significant...
Posts before October 2021 have been marked as "Old Posts". Less likely, but they might have out dated or incorrect information, ugly looking bits of code, no labels, etc. Don't get me wrong, many of these posts are top-notch and interesting too.
I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!
I thought it would be better not to delete or revamp these posts, even if they suck. The bitter truth is that old works always suck, but I take that as a positive tool to convey that I am growing. Besides there's no better way to showcase my journey without these old, messy, poorly written posts!
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