Nuakea (deity)

For a Hawaiian noblewoman, see Nuakea, and for her daughter, see Kapau-a-Nuakea.

In Hawaiian mythology, Nuakea is a beneficent goddess of milk and lactation.[1]

This name was also a title for a wet nurse of royal prince, according to David Malo.[2]

Nuakea was appealed to staunch the flow of milk in the mother's breasts.

Euhemerism

There was a chiefess named after the goddess, Nuakea, wife of Keoloewa, ruling chief of island of Molokai.

Martha Warren Beckwith suggested that this princess was later deified and turned into a goddess.[3]

According to the myth, Nuʻakea was a goddess who came to Earth and married mortal chief Keoloewaakamauaua, but it is known that historical Nuʻakea was born on Oahu island.

Notes

  1. ↑ Native planters in old Hawaii: their life, lore, and environment by Edward Smith Craighill Handy, Elizabeth Green Handy, Mary Kawena Pukui.
  2. ↑ Hawaiian antiquities (Moolelo Hawaii) by David Malo
  3. ↑ Hawaiian Mythology by Martha Warren Beckwith. See this page.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, April 20, 2013. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.