Editing Rūaumoko

{{Short description|Māori deity of earthquakes, volcanoes and seasons}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Polynesian
| name = Rūaumoko
| god_of = [[Māori mythology|Māori]] [[Atua]] of Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Seasons
| image = Mt Taranaki (Mt Egmont).JPG
| caption = [[Mount Taranaki]], a volcano in New Zealand. Ruaumoko is believed to cause volcanoes and earthquakes.
| gender = Male
| region = Polynesia
| ethnic_group = Māori
| parents = [[Ranginui]] and [[Papatūānuku]]
}}

In [[Māori mythology]], '''Rūaumoko''' (also known as '''Rūamoko''') is the god of [[earthquake]]s, [[volcano]]es and [[season]]s.<ref name="EQC">{{cite web |url=http://www.eq-iq.co.nz/eq-intro/eq-stories/eq-stories-ruaumoko.aspx |title=Ruaumoko - God of Earthquakes |author=Te Papa |author-link=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa |publisher=[[Earthquake Commission]] |location=[[Wellington]], New Zealand |access-date=8 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509182933/http://www.eq-iq.co.nz/eq-intro/eq-stories/eq-stories-ruaumoko.aspx |archive-date=9 May 2012 }}</ref><ref name="TeAraHistoricEarthquakes">{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/historic-earthquakes/1 |title=Historic earthquakes - Earthquakes in Māori tradition |first=Eileen |last=McSaveney |date=2 March 2009 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage|Manatū Taonga {{pipe}} Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] |location=[[Wellington]], New Zealand |access-date=3 May 2012}}</ref> He is the youngest son of Ranginui (the Sky father) and Papatūānuku (the Earth mother) (commonly called [[Rangi and Papa]]).<ref name="TeAraHistoricEarthquakes" />

[[Ruaumoko Patera]], named after this god, is one of [[List of paterae on Io|many paterae]] (shallow craters) on [[Io (moon)|Io]], one of [[Jupiter's moons]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/5210?__fsk=-766804678 |title=Ruaumoko Patera |author=International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) |author-link=International Astronomical Union |date=15 May 2010 |publisher=Planetary Geomatics Group, [[Astrogeology Research Program|USGS Astrogeology Science Center]] |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

==Origin story==
After [[Rangi and Papa]] were separated by their sons, Rangi cried, and his tears drenched the land. To stop this, the sons decided to turn Papa face down, so Rangi and Papa could no longer see each other's sorrow. Rūaumoko was at his mother's breast when this happened, so he was carried into the world below.<ref name="TeAraHistoricEarthquakes" /> He was given fire for warmth die by Tama-kaka, and his movements below the earth cause earthquakes and volcanoes.<ref name="EQC" /><ref name="TeAraHistoricEarthquakes" /> Another version tells that he remains in Papa's womb, with some variants saying it was to keep Papa company after her separation from Rangi. In these versions, his movements in the womb cause earthquakes.<ref name="EQC" />

The earthquakes Rūaumoko causes are in turn responsible for the change of seasons. Depending on the time of year, the earthquakes cause the warmth, or cold, of Papa to come to the surface of the land, resulting in the warming, or cooling of the Earth.<ref name="EQC" /><ref>{{cite journal |last=Best |first=Elsdon |date=June 1908 |title=Art. XV.—Maori Forest Lore: being some Account of Native Forest Lore and Woodcraft, as also of many Myths, Rites, Customs, and Superstitions connected with the Flora and Fauna of the Tuhoe or Ure-wera District.—Part I |journal=[[Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute]] |volume=40 |pages=185–254 |location=[[Wellington]], New Zealand |publisher=John Mackay, Government Printing Office |access-date=8 May 2012 |url=http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/volume/rsnz_40/rsnz_40_00_002620.html}}</ref>

Rūaumoko pulls on the ropes that control the land causing the shimmering effect of hot air, called haka of Tane-rore, and in some versions, earthquakes.<ref name="EQC" />

In some traditions, Rūaumoko creates the [[Auckland volcanic field]] alongside his brother [[Mataaho]], in retribution for a war between two rival tribes of [[patupaiarehe]].<ref name="Maoriorgnz">{{Cite web | title = Mataaho |url=http://www.maori.org.nz/korero/default.php?pid=sp61&parent=55 | website = maori.org.nz  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201030340/http://www.maori.org.nz/korero/default.php?pid=sp61&parent=55 |archive-date=1 December 2020 | access-date = 12 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="MangereMountain">{{Cite web |last1=Pegman |first1=David M  | title = The Volcanoes of Auckland |url=http://mangeremountain.com/content/library/The_Volcanoes_of_Auckland.pdf |work = [[Manukau City Council]] | publisher = Mangere Mountain Education Centre  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324071550/http://mangeremountain.com/content/library/The_Volcanoes_of_Auckland.pdf |date=August 2007 |archive-date=24 March 2012 | access-date = 6 October 2021}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4372/ruaumoko Photo] of [[Whakairo|carving]] of Rūaumoko in [[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa|Te Papa]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120509182933/http://www.eq-iq.co.nz/eq-intro/eq-stories/eq-stories-ruaumoko.aspx Ruaumoko – God of Earthquakes] on the [[Earthquake Commission]] website
* [http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/historic-earthquakes/1 Earthquakes in Māori tradition] article in ''[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ruaumoko}}
[[Category:Māori gods]]
[[Category:Nature gods]]
[[Category:Earth gods]]
[[Category:Volcano gods]]


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