An accessible, concise reference source on Polynesia's complex mythology, product of a culture little known outside its home. Encounters with the West introduced Polynesian mythology to the world-and sealed its fate as a casualty of colonialism. But for centuries before the Europeans came, that mythology was as vast as the triangle of ocean in which it flourished, as diverse as the people it served, and as complex as the mythologies of Greece and Rome. Students, researchers, and enthusiasts can follow vivid retellings of stories of creation, death, and great voyages, tracking variations from island to island. They can use the book's reference section for information on major deities, heroes, elves, fairies, and recurring themes, as well as the mythic implications of everything from dogs and volcanoes to the hula, Easter Island, and tattooing (invented in the South Pacific and popularized by returning sailors).

An accessible, concise reference source on Polynesia's complex mythology, product of a culture little known outside its home.

About the Author
Robert D. Craig is professor emeritus of Pacific history at Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, AK.

Reviews
This will be a useful volume for undergraduate collections . . . Recommended. * Choice *
Overall, this handbook makes available a wide range of infomation suitable for students ranging from high school to undergraduate and general interest readers. * American Reference Books Annual *



Book Information
ISBN 9781576078945
Author Robert Dean Craig
Format Hardback
Page Count 376
Imprint ABC-CLIO
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Weight(grams) 822g