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In Māori mythology, Tama-nui-te-rā (Tamanuiterā) is the personification of the Sun.
Contents
Etymology
In the Māori language, Tama-nui-te-rā means "Great Son of the Sun". The Māori word for "sun" or "day" is rā, deriving from Proto-Polynesian *laqaa.
Legends
Hero Māui decided that the days were too short and caught Tamanuiterā with a snare, then beat him to make him travel more slowly across the sky.
Family
In some legends Tamanuiterā is the husband of Ārohirohi, goddess of mirages. In other legends, Tamanuiterā had two wives, the Summer maid, Hineraumati, and the Winter maid, Hinetakurua.
The child of Tamanuiterā and Hineraumati, Tane-rore, is credited with the origin of dance.
Another son of Tamanuiterā is Auahitūroa, god of comets and fires, and grandchildren of Tamanuiterā are Ngā Mānawa.