Papuan carvings and masks with indigenous deities.
Papuan mythology is the collective myths of all indigenous people living in Melanasia, which consists of Papua New Guinea plus all the close by islands in the area. See also the Aboriginal Australian Myths and Pacific Mythology (which includes Hawaii and New Zealand) island pages if you wish to see more information about Oceania's very diverse cultural and indigenous mythological background.
Papuan Mythology provides examples of:
- Genius Loci: A common feature of various Papuan religions are spirits embodying the various forests, lakes and whatnot. These are, however, pretty monstrous, and although most cultures frown at ecological destruction tree clearing has a rich tradition to keep these things in place. They may however spare you if you are of their bloodline.
- Giant Spider: Areop-Enap is the creator god of Nauruan mythology, and he is a gigantic spider.
- God of Light: The Papuan religion (more specifically the Massim version) has Dudugera, the god of the sun. He is portrayed in a remarkably negative light, aiming to burn all life and even called a "terrible affliction on the world".
- Light Is Not Good:
- Dudugera is the sun god (at least in the Massim region) and he hates you. He is non-charitably called "a great abomination" for trying to burn everyone to death.
- In Murua legends the sun woman kept the sun to herself until her son forced her to share. She since has a vendetta against humanity.
- In most stories Endless Daytime was the norm, making everyone sick. Night is a gift from the gods or cultural heroes.
- Male Sun, Female Moon: A complicated example. The most well documented sun god, Dudugera, is male, but other cultures see the sun as feminine and the moon as masculine much like Aboriginal Australians.
- Top God: Agunua (alternate name Hatuibwari) is the giant cosmic serpent god of the people of San Cristobal Island (now better known as Makira) of the Solomon Islands. He is the chief god, and all other gods are only an aspect of him. The first coconut from each tree is sacred to Agunua. Besides the supreme creator deity, he is also the god of the sea.
- Trickster God: Olifat (also known as Yelafath, Orofat, Iolofath or Wolphat) who is the son of the god Lugeilan and the mortal woman Tarisso. His parents are the children of respectively Anulap (the god of knowledge plus magic) and Hit (the octopus goddess of the underworld). While blamed for many problems in life, he is also credited with bringing fire and tattoos.
