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1

ANALYSING THE MOTIF OF “DWARF PEOPLE” IN POLYNESIAN MYTHOLOGIES, THEIR ORIGIN AND CHARACTERISTICS. PART I.

100%
Bucková M.
Asian and African Studies
|
2020
|
vol. 29
|
issue 2
192 – 203
EN
This article analyses myths regarding so-called “dwarf people,” which were recorded in the region of Polynesia. According to many of these myths, these people were ancient ancestors of current-day Polynesians. Common characteristics of these people across various myths include their very short stocky stature, living in deep valleys and forests hidden away from others. All myths about Menehune highlight their exceptional skill in working with stone and building various structures such as shrines, waterways, ponds, roads, and others. Much Hawaiian mythology attributes many stone structures to their work. Anthropologists and scholars of religion favour the opinion that these “dwarf people” were purely mythical beings. However, since the discovery of skeletons of small people on Flores Island in 2003, this topic can now be viewed from a completely different angle.
2

PHENOMENON OF THE CULTURE HERO IN POLYNESIAN MYTHOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

100%
Bučková M.
Asian and African Studies
|
2012
|
vol. 21
|
issue 2
220 – 239
EN
The article deals with the phenomenon of the culture hero Māui in Polynesian mythological systems. A culture hero is a mythical being found in the mythologies of many archaic societies. He is a culture bringer, demiurg. The most famous is Greek Prometheus which has much in common with Polynesian Māui. He is characterized by several common features: he often invents new cultural goods or tools, for example, making fire or cultivating crops; he teaches people to make tools, provide food and perform arts. He introduces social structure, law, rules of marriage, magic, ceremonies and holidays. The article is divided into four blocks. The first focused with the culture hero in world mythology overall. The second with dissemination of the Māui´s myths in Oceania, the third is on origin of Polynesian culture hero and the last deals with the most important actions of Māui like fishing islands, snaring the sun and stealing of fire.
3

ANALYSING THE MOTIF OF “DWARF PEOPLE” IN POLYNESIAN MYTHOLOGIES. MYTHICAL BUILDERS (PART II.)

100%
Bucková M.
Asian and African Studies
|
2021
|
vol. 30
|
issue 1
31 - 52
EN
This article analyses myths regarding to so-called “dwarf people,” which were recorded in the region of Polynesia. According to many of these myths, these people were ancient ancestors of current-day Polynesians. Common characteristics of these people across various myths include their very short stocky stature, living in deep valleys and forests hidden away from others. All myths about Menehune highlight their exceptional skill in working with stone and building various structures such as shrines, waterways, ponds, roads, and others. Much Hawaiian mythology attributes many stone structures to their work. Anthropologists and scholars of religion favour the opinion that these “dwarf people” were purely mythical beings. However, since the discovery of skeletons of small people on Flores Island in 2003, this topic can now be viewed from a completely different angle.
4

COMPARISON AND ANALYSIS OF ESCHATOLOGICAL THEMES IN POLYNESIAN MYTHOLOGY AS A SURVIVOR OF PROTOPOLYNESIAN UNITY

88%
Bucková M.
Asian and African Studies
|
2011
|
vol. 20
|
issue 1
114-134
EN
This article deals with the comparison and analysis of eschatological themes in Polynesian myths. It points to three central themes of imagining the afterlife: the underworld, the homeland and the heavenly world. In addition to this, the article also discusses imaginings of the soul's departure to the other world. From the presented material, it becomes clear that even though there are certain differences among eschatological myths, there are also a number of common elements which provide proof of unity before the ancestors of the Polynesians spread to all parts of Polynesia. An especially interesting aspect is the understanding of the afterlife as a homeland to which spirits return after death. Upon the basis of linguistic research and mythology analysis, the conclusion can be made that the mythology of the inhabitants of western Polynesia - Tonga and Samoa - consider their homeland to be some islands in eastern Fiji. By contrast, the inhabitants of eastern Polynesia consider their homeland to be Hawaiki, which is clearly a reference to their long period of habitation in the island archipelago of western Polynesia, particularly Savai'i Island and the Samoan archipelago.
5

VARIATIONS OF MYTHS CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF FIRE IN EASTERN POLYNESIA

75%
Bučková M.
Asian and African Studies
|
2009
|
vol. 18
|
issue 2
324-343
EN
The authoress analysed in this study the most completely recorded variants of the Maui myths concerning the origin of fire in Eastern Polynesia. Those myths show the diversity of form assumed in each island. No two islands have an identical myth about the origin of fire. This diversity is most probably caused by narrative traditions and by individual interpretations made by each tribe. But the figure of Maui which appears in the great majority of noted myths of Eastern Polynesia confirms their common origin.
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