Universal animation; the conception of Atua, Mana, Ani, Kalit, and the like - Creation of gods - Hero-worship - Atua, Oroniatua - Gods of the sea, the air, the land, daily occupations - Animation of beasts, plants, and stones - Cosmogany and mythology; views of Nature - Beginnings of metaphysics - Legend of Papa and Kaka - Separation of Heaven and Earth - Rangi-Ru and Maui - Maui as deity and animating principle of earthquake, fire, and sun - Hawaiian and Maori Mauis - Wakea - Tangaroa the Polynesian Zeus, god of the sun, the firmament, the horizon - Tii as a variation of time - Tane, god of the sky - Hina, goddess of the moon - Gods of Olympus and Hades, Hikuleo, Milu, Pele - Hero-gods: Meru, Moso, Oru, Maru - Priests; universality of the office - Priests and chiefs - Priest-kings - Consecration of priests - The priests' functions - Temples and places of sacrifice; various kinds of sacred places - Graves as places of veneration - Temples - Lack of genuine idols - Embodiments of gods - The Tii - Stone images - Feather-idols - Graves and funeral customs; stay of the soul near the body and about the grave - Various forms of interment - Skull-worship - Sacrifices to the dead - Burying alive.

Ancestral image (Korvar) from New Guinea - approx, 300mm high. (British Museum.)

Religion in Oceania

• Universal animation
• Creation of gods
• Hero-worship
• Gods of the sea, the air, the land, daily occupations
• Animation of beasts, plants, and birds
• Animation of animals, and stones
• Cosmogany and mythology
• Tangaroa the Polynesian Zeus, god of the sun, the firmament, the horizon
• The Tii
• Beginnings of metaphysics
• Legend of Papa and Kaka
• Separation of Heaven and Earth
• Rangi-Ru and Maui
• Maui as deity and animating principle of earthquake, fire, and sun
• Hawaiian and Maori Mauis
• Tane, god of the sky
• Polynesian Gods of Olympus and Hades
• Melanesian Gods of Olympus and Hades
• Stone images
• Hero-gods: Meru, Moso, Oru, Maru
• The Legend of the Fall
• The Deluge Legend
• The priests' functions
• Priests and chiefs
• Priest-kings
• Consecration of priests
• Temples and places of sacrifice
• Various kinds of sacred places
• Graves as places of veneration
• Lack of genuine idols
• Embodiments of gods
• Feather-idols
• Sacrifices to the dead
• Stay of the soul near the body and about the grave
• Graves and funeral customs
• Various forms of interment
• Skull-worship
• Graves and funeral customs
• Burying alive

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