Nafanua is the name of the revered Goddess of War in
SamoaSamoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa , is a country governing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and Savai'i...
and a
deityA deity is a postulated preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
in
Polynesian MythologyPolynesian mythology is the oral traditions of the people of Polynesia a grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island archipelagos in the Polynesian triangle together with the scattered cultures known as the Polynesian outliers...
.
According to Samoan beliefs, Nafanua was the daughter of
Saveasi'uleoSaveasi'uleo is the God of Pulotu, the underworld of spirits or Hades in Samoan mythology.He is the father of Nafanua the Goddess of War in Samoa...
, the God of
PulotuIn the mythology of parts of western Polynesia , Pulotu is the underworld, the world of darkness ....
, Samoa's spirit world. Her mother was
TilafaigaTilafaiga was one of the siamese twin sisters who brought the art of tatau to Samoa from Fiti. Tilafaiga's twin sister's name is Taema....
.
Nafanua's name originates from events in her early years. Na (shortened version of the Samoan word nana that means hidden) and fanua (Samoan word for land or for placenta). When Nafanua was born her mother was frightened that her father- a sea monster- might destroy her if he knew of her existence.
Nafanua is the name of the revered Goddess of War in
SamoaSamoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa , is a country governing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and Savai'i...
and a
deityA deity is a postulated preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
in
Polynesian MythologyPolynesian mythology is the oral traditions of the people of Polynesia a grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island archipelagos in the Polynesian triangle together with the scattered cultures known as the Polynesian outliers...
.
According to Samoan beliefs, Nafanua was the daughter of
Saveasi'uleoSaveasi'uleo is the God of Pulotu, the underworld of spirits or Hades in Samoan mythology.He is the father of Nafanua the Goddess of War in Samoa...
, the God of
PulotuIn the mythology of parts of western Polynesia , Pulotu is the underworld, the world of darkness ....
, Samoa's spirit world. Her mother was
TilafaigaTilafaiga was one of the siamese twin sisters who brought the art of tatau to Samoa from Fiti. Tilafaiga's twin sister's name is Taema....
.
Background
Nafanua's name originates from events in her early years. Na (shortened version of the Samoan word nana that means hidden) and fanua (Samoan word for land or for placenta). When Nafanua was born her mother was frightened that her father- a sea monster- might destroy her if he knew of her existence. So she hid her placenta under the land. She lived in
PulotuIn the mythology of parts of western Polynesia , Pulotu is the underworld, the world of darkness ....
, an underground realm for Samoa's gods, goddesses, and demons (similar to Mt. Olympus/
HadesHades refers both to the ancient Greek underworld, the abode of Hades, and to the god of the underworld. Hades in Homer referred just to the god; the genitive , Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades"...
of Greek mythology and
ValhallaIn Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those that die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led by valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr...
of Norse mythology). When her name was invoked by the helpless Samoans, she came to aid them in a battle against the Tongans. A gust of wind blew her top away revealing her breasts and she was immediately embarrassed leading to the naming of a field in Samoa called,
Le Malae o le Ma (the field of Nafanua's mortification). The Tongans noticing this, quickly ended the war for they did not want to fight a woman. Samoa was freed. Nafanua created a government headquartered in the westernmost part of Savaii, but told the people that one day, a new government would come from across the seas, and the people must support it. Centuries later, in 1830
John Williams (missionary)John Williams was an English missionary, active in the South Pacific. Born near London, England, he was trained as a foundry worker and mechanic...
, from the London Missonary Society arrived in Samoa introducing Samoa to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nafanua's
prophecyA prophecy is the message that has been communicated to a prophet which the prophet then communicates to others. In general, this message can involve divine inspiration, revelation, or interpretation. More specifically, it may be a professed psychic prediction. Confusion often exists between the...
, notably, had come true. Within a short period, the entire nation, led by
MalietoaMalietoa is a state dynasty and chiefly title in Samoa. Literally translated as "great warrior," the title's origin is associated with the volatile political scene of western Polynesia during the 13th century.-History:...
who befriended John Williams became Christian.
According to legend, Nafanua helped the Samoans win their freedom from
TongaTonga , officially the Kingdom of Tonga , an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprises 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited, and stretches over a distance of about 800 kilometres in a north-south line...
.
Falealupo
In Samoa, the village of
FalealupoFalealupo is a village situated on the northwestern peninsula of Savai'i, from the dateline. In the sea at the farthest point of the peninsula, the Fafā, an outcropping of volcanic rocks, is said in legend to be the gateway to the underworld Pulotu, where aitu, the spirits of deceased persons,...
on the island of
Savai'iSavaii is the largest island in Samoa and the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose....
is the home of Nafanua. Often chiefs from distant villages and islands would come to Falealupo to seek Nafanua's blessings before beginning any military adventure.
Falealupo is also the site of the entryway into the spirit world Pulotu.
Other References
- Nafanua is a Pacific-class patrol boat operated by the Samoa Police Department. It was provided to Samoa by the Australian Government
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat ProgramThe Pacific Patrol Boat Program was created by Australia to provide small neighbouring South Pacific nations with a maritime surveillance capability...
.
- Nafanua is the name of an active underwater volcanic cone
Volcanic cones are among the simplest volcanic formations in the world. They are built by ejecta from a volcanic vent, piling up around the vent in the shape of a cone with a central crater. Volcanic cones are of different types, depending upon the nature and size of the fragments ejected during...
in American SamoaAmerican Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa . The main island is Tutuila, with the Manua Islands, Rose Atoll, and Swains Island also included in the territory...
. Nafanua Volcano is named after the warrior goddess.
- Nafanua is also the name of the Congrational Christian Church of Samoa - Avondale, Aucklan New Zealand.