A Who's Who of World Mythology : Atea

Atea “space” or Atea Rangi is a moon god and the Polynesian primeval god, the first to emerge from Chaos. Divided down the center, he is depicted in some tales as half man and half fish. He is also referred to as Avatea, Vatea, and Wakea (Hawaiian). The second god to emerge from Chaos was his brother Tinirau who was also depicted as half man and half fish.

According to the myths of Tahuata (the smallest of the Marquesas islands), Atea emerged one morning from his mother Chaos, Vari-Ma-Te-Takere. Freeing himself, he made room for Atanua to arise. They married and had a son, Tu-Mea, the first man. Other myths say he separated into two beings, becoming the god Rangi, Vatea, or Wakea and the goddess Papa. Their children were Tangaroa and Rongo. Though Vatea liked Tangaroa, he allowed himself to be persuaded by his wife to dispossess him in favor of Rongo.

By Tuamotuan (islands east of Tahiti) mythology, Atea was the sky god who married Fa'ahotu. After their firstborn, the magician Tahu, died of starvation on Fa'ahotu's flat bosom, and others followed, the two gods exchanged sexes. A legend is told of Atea and Tane, a younger god whom Atea tried to capture. After having sent a host of deities against Tane, the young god escaped to Earth and wandered, finally becoming so hungry that he killed and ate one of his ancestors. This was the beginning of what was to become cannibalism. Reaching manhood, Tane declared war on Atea, and slew him with the thunderbolts of his ancestor, Fatu-tiri.