Eggsquisitely Mythical #21 : Samoa
- Dr. Fizza Younis
- May 29
- 12 min read
Hello, fellow eggs and mythology lovers!
For our next Eggsquisitely Mythical issue, we are doing a deep dive on the legends of Samoa.
Background
Samoa is a stunning island nation in the South Pacific, known for its rich Polynesian culture, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality. It consists of two main islands, Upolu and Savai‘i, and several smaller ones. The capital city, Apia, is located on Upolu. Samoa has a fascinating history, including early settlement by the Lapita people over 3,500 years ago and periods of colonial rule by Germany and New Zealand before gaining independence in 1962.
The country is famous for its strong cultural traditions, known as “Fa‘a Samoa,” emphasizing family, respect, and communal living. Samoa’s natural beauty includes lush rainforests, volcanic mountains, and pristine beaches. Visitors can explore stunning waterfalls, coral reefs, and traditional villages while experiencing the deep-rooted customs of the Samoan people.
Gods and Goddesses
Tagaloa is the chief god and creator in Samoan mythology, associated with the heavens and the sky. He is credited with creating the islands, the heavens, the sea, and humanity. Legends describe him forming the island of Savai'i by rolling stones from the heavens. He is also known as Taga'loa-lagi.
Tangaloa is a sea god, sometimes considered the same as Tagaloa or as one of his children. Tangaloa is associated with the ocean and marine life.
Lagi is the god of the sky and the heavens, often linked with Tagaloa as a celestial deity.
Fe'e is a war god incarnated as an octopus or cuttlefish. He was brought to the island of Manu'a by the god Tagaloa and ruled Pulotu for a time before his son Saveasi'uleo took over.
Mafui'e is the god of earthquakes and volcanic activity, symbolizing the power of the earth. He resides in the volcanic regions beneath the Earth and is associated with seismic activity. He is depicted as having only one arm. In a notable myth, the demigod Tiʻitiʻi wrested the secret of fire from Mafuiʻe, bringing it to humanity.
Maniloa is known as the god of cannibalism. He would construct bridges over ravines and shake them to cause mortals to fall to their deaths, after which he would consume their remains.
Tui Fiti is the god associated with planting and agriculture, known for his role in ensuring fertility of the land. He is a spirit deity residing in the village of Fagamalo on Savai'i island. He is considered a guardian spirit and is associated with the protection of the village and its people.
Fetu, whose name means "star," is the deity of the night sky. His wife is Ele'ele, and together they represent celestial aspects of Samoan cosmology.
Saveasiʻuleo is the God of Pulotu (Old concept of Heaven), the underworld of spirits or Hades in Samoan mythology. He is also the father of Nafanua. He is sometimes depicted as half-man, half-eel. His domain is considered the final resting place for souls and is located at the western end of Savai'i island.
Nafanua is the goddess of war, fertility, and the protector of women. She is also associated with the arts of war and healing. She is also regarded as a peace bringer, having brought peace to Savai'i through winning the wars between the two regions of the island. She was born from a clot of blood and raised by her father. Nafanua crafted weapons from the Toa tree and led battles that restored peace. Her identity as a woman was revealed during battle, leading to the enemy's surrender out of shame.
Leai is the goddess of storms and wind, known for her ability to control weather patterns.
Papa is the goddess of the earth, known as the mother of all living things and associated with fertility and creation.
Tuloua is the goddess of war, known for her fierceness and protection of warriors.
Tilafaiga and Taema are the twin goddesses. The twin sisters credited with bringing the art of tattooing (tatau) from Fiji to Samoa. Tilafaiga is also noted as the mother of Nafanua. Their journey and teachings are central to Samoan cultural identity.
Other Deities
In Samoan mythology, Faʻatiu is the deity associated with wind and storms. In one legend, the demigod Tiʻitiʻi captures various winds, leaving only the gentle Fisaga free.
Fisaga is the deity of light and gentle breeze. In Samoan language, "fisaga" refers to a pleasant wind associated with good weather.
Lesa is the deity associated with agriculture and abundance. He brings bountiful harvests and can be invoked to ruin the crops of enemies during wartime.
Faamalu is a war god incarnated as a fish or cloud. Prayers are addressed to him to avenge thievery.
Fanonga is a war god incarnated as an owl. Samoans offered food sacrifices to him.
Atonga is a cultural hero, half-mortal and half-spirit. He built the first canoe on Savaii with his brothers Olokeu and Olo-i-nano, then had it transported to Upolu by birds.
Fuailagi is a war god incarnated as a sea eel. He is credited with creating the heavens by digging up the earth and creating a new island.
Gai'o gave life to a rock from the depths of the sea, which became the wife of the creator god Tagaloa and mother to the messenger Tuli.
Hina, also known as Sina, was sent by Tagaloa in the form of the bird Turi to find dry land. She eventually found land appearing from the waves and was sent down with creeping vines that turned into mortal beings.
Various Legends
Samoan mythology is rich with legends that convey cultural values, explain natural phenomena, and preserve historical narratives. It includes many legends about different types of deities—those of the forest, sea, rain, harvest, village, and battle. These deities fall into two main groups: atua, who have non-human origins, and aitu, who come from human origins.
The Story of Pili and Sina
Sina was a beautiful young woman, and Pili was a supernatural being who fell in love with her. In some versions, Pili transformed himself into an eel (pua'a vai) so he could be near Sina without alarming her. He lived in a freshwater pool that Sina would visit daily.
Over time, Sina grew suspicious of the eel's intense gaze and affection. When she discovered that the eel was actually Pili, who loved her, she became frightened and fled.
Eventually, the eel was caught and killed, but before dying, he asked that his head be buried, and from it would grow a tree. That tree was the coconut tree.
This is why, in Samoan culture, people say that when you look at a coconut, you can see a face—the eyes and mouth of the eel—and why drinking from a coconut is seen as drinking from the eel’s head, fulfilling his final wish to stay close to Sina.
This legend is known across many parts of Polynesia, with different versions in Tonga, Fiji, and Hawaii, but it holds a special place in Samoa’s cultural storytelling.
The Evil Spirit of Sasavaimuli
Around 200 years ago, the village of Sasavaimuli, located inland from Vailuutai, was abandoned. Nearby stood a place called Pua, named after a Pua tree that was believed to be the dwelling place of powerful spirits. These spirits would roam the land during the day and return to the tree at nightfall. The villagers feared this area deeply, and whenever they worked on plantations near the tree, they would hurry and leave before nightfall to avoid encountering the spirits.
For generations, this fear persisted—until the villagers decided to cut down the tree, hoping to drive the spirits away. A group was selected for the task, and when they struck the tree with stone axes, blood flowed from it, but they eventually brought it down.
That evening, when the spirits returned and found the tree destroyed, they were furious. Using their supernatural abilities, they tracked down those responsible and killed them. The survivors fled the village, never to return.
The people of Sasavaimuli scattered to different areas. Some settled in Iva, Salelavalu, and other parts of Savai'i, while others moved to Falealili, Vailuutai, Faleatiu, Fasitootai, and villages across Upolu. Today, the descendants of Sasavaimuli still live in these places and are considered the heirs of the original village.
Legend of the stone that blocked the road
During the time the King of Tonga in Samoa, six brothers, Savea, Tuna, Fata, Veatauia, Leimuli, and Lealaili, were given a task. The king ordered them to remove a massive stone blocking the road around the cape at Matauea, Safotu, warning that failure would mean death.
A large stone that blocked the road around the cape at Matauea, Safotu. According to legend, the stone was placed there by a powerful spirit or deity who was angered or wished to mark territory. Despite attempts to move it, the stone always returned to its place.
When their first attempt failed, Lealaili suggested seeking help from their sister’s son, Ulumasiu, who lived in Falelatai with his father, Tagaloa. After hearing the situation, Ulumasiu traveled to Savai'i, examined the stone, and discovered it was hollow. He then went to Manase, caught eels, cuttlefish, and sea snakes, and collected mud.
Ulumasiu placed the mud and sea creatures inside the hollow stone. Then, poking a stick into its hole, he told his uncles to roll the stone while chanting a song:"Oh eels and snakes and cuttlefish, you must roll this stone away."
Following his instructions, the brothers successfully moved the stone. Their lives were spared, and the King of Tonga allowed them to live in peace.
The legend highlights the importance of honoring spiritual forces in Samoan culture.
The Origin of Taro and Authority in Samoa
In this Samoan legend, Tagaloalagi and his wife Uluifuga lived in the heavens. On earth, Amuamuia and Finatele sent their son Vaea'i to request two things from the gods: water and the authority to rule the land.
When Vaea'i arrived in the heavens, Uluifuga asked why he had come. He explained his mission, and she told him to stay silent until Tagaloalagi returned from his plantation. When Tagaloalagi arrived and learned of the boy’s visit, Uluifuga told him that Vaea'i had come for taro heads to plant on earth. Tagaloalagi agreed to send some taro later through his own messengers and sent the boy back.
However, Tagaloalagi confided in Uluifuga that he believed the boy's true request was for authority to rule, not just taro. Despite his concerns about keeping it secret from other gods, he agreed to grant the request. He instructed his sons—Tagaloatea, Moefano, and Imoa—to take taro heads and hide them between their legs for the journey to earth. They were also told to first lower the waters, marking the origin of Vaituutuu (the first water source).
Eventually, both the taro and the authority to govern were delivered to the people who had asked—linking the origins of agriculture and leadership in Samoan tradition.
The Story of the Earth
A couple, Lutane and Lufafine, lived with their beautiful daughters Aloaloalela and Sautia, under the protection of the Sun. The Sun wished to marry Aloaloalela, and she was sent to live with him, though unwillingly. Later, pregnant and unhappy, she and Sautia fled into the sea. During their escape, Aloaloalela gave birth to what seemed like a lifeless mass of blood. The sky god Tagaloaalagi noticed it and had his sons bring it to him. He revived the child, who grew up under his care.
Years later, the boy played a game with the children of Tagaloaalagi's sister and beat them, causing conflict. When told he wasn’t the true son of Tagaloaalagi, he learned the truth of his birth—that his mother had given birth to him while fleeing from the Sun. He was taken to reunite with his mother and aunt, who were now living on a small patch of land that eventually became the island of Manua.
Moved by the boy’s request, Tagaloaalagi made their island beautiful by sending trees, rain, and abundance. From then on, the island flourished and became known as the home of the two sisters.
Legend of Tigilau and Seia
Long ago, in the land of Savavau, there was a powerful chief named Tigilau. But Tigilau had a strange and cruel law: every boy born in his kingdom must be killed, because he feared that one might grow more handsome and stronger than himself. Only girls were allowed to live.
One couple, desperate to save their children, escaped to a hidden cape by the sea. There, their first son was lost to Tigilau’s law, but a second son was born and raised in secret. This boy was Seia, and he grew into a young man of extraordinary beauty and strength—so handsome that even the ladies of the village would stop and stare.
When word of Seia’s beauty reached Tigilau, the jealous chief was furious. He sent a messenger to summon Seia, hoping to trap and kill him. But Seia was clever and brave.
The first task Tigilau gave him was to uproot the massive roots of a great Toa tree that blocked his house. Seia pulled and pushed until the tree’s roots crashed to the ground, impressing everyone with his power.
Next, Tigilau sent Seia to pick special breadfruit guarded by a cannibal spirit. Seia shook down every fruit, while the cannibal waited to snatch him, but the clever boy escaped unharmed.
Then, Seia was sent to catch a giant shark—the fearsome Tanifa. Seia waited patiently, tricked the shark by casting his shadow, then grabbed it and dragged it ashore. The people cheered, and Tigilau’s anger only grew.
Finally, Tigilau ordered Seia to fetch kava from the bush, knowing a cannibal named Uluiva lived there. Seia found the cannibal’s home, faced him bravely in a fierce fight, and defeated him. He even took Uluiva’s wife, Sina, and escaped on the cannibal’s magic flying wheel.
Despite all this, Tigilau refused to give up. His last trick was a challenge involving a mysterious woman who lived between the heavens and the earth. If one of them won her favor, the other would be burned in an oven.
Tigilau went first, but failed to find the lady’s resting place. Then Seia went, disguising himself and sneaking past the guards. The woman chose Seia, enchanted by his bravery and charm.
When Tigilau saw that Seia had won, his heart broke. Overcome with shame and defeat, he threw himself into the sea.
Seia returned home a hero, reunited with his parents. He had faced death many times but survived with strength, courage, and wit. The people of Savavau would remember him forever—the beautiful boy who outsmarted a jealous chief and lived to tell the tale.
Other Stories
Some other stories in Samoa mythology and legends are:
The Peopling of the Earth
Lagilagia gave birth to a son who was just a skull—no body at all. This skull fell to the ground and was found by Valavala, who placed it carefully on a tall-legged chair he had made. Valavala wished aloud for the skull to have a body so he wouldn’t be alone. Suddenly, the skull grew into the full body of a boy.
As the boy grew, he became very wise. One day, Valavala pointed to the different directions—north, south, east, west, above, and below—and asked the boy, “Do you know where these places are?” The boy replied confidently, naming each direction perfectly.
Valavala praised him, “You’re a clever boy, you know all the points of the compass.”
The boy answered, “Because of that, my name is Ituagieseese, which means ‘different points of the heavens.’”
Ituagieseese then married the East wind and had a son named Tui; he married the West wind and had another Tui; the North wind also became his wife and bore Tui; and the South wind bore him yet another Tui. Through these unions, the four corners of the Earth were filled with people.
The Long Toothed Devil of Falelima
In the village of Falelima, there lived a powerful spirit or demon named Nifoloa, meaning "long tooth." Even after Nifoloa died, his tooth continued to grow underground, spreading across the nearby island of Upolu. People who came into contact with this tooth would develop painful sores, and even after healing, the scars remained. Those afflicted in this way came to be known as “Nifoloa.”
Why the Ends of Samoa Houses are Round
In ancient times, during the era of Tagaloalagi, Samoan houses came in various shapes, which caused problems for people wanting homes built a specific way. Each carpenter specialized in just one shape, making it difficult to find the right builder. To solve this, all the carpenters gathered for a meeting to agree on a standard design. When no consensus was reached, they turned to Tagaloalagi for guidance. After thinking it over, he pointed to the dome of the sky and the curve of the horizon, declaring that from then on, all houses should follow that shape. This is why the ends of Samoan houses are rounded—modeled after the heavens stretching down to meet the earth.
The Story of the Sun and the Rain tells of a disagreement between the two over who was stronger. To settle the matter, they decided to test their power on a man walking along a road, wearing a coat for protection.
The rain challenged the sun to make the man remove his coat. The sun shone brightly, and eventually, the man grew warm and took off his coat. Then it was the rain’s turn. As the rain began to fall, the man quickly put his coat back on and kept it on.
This proved that the sun was stronger than the rain, as it could make the man willingly remove his coat, while the rain only made him cling to it tighter.
The Tree of Life
Leutogitupaitea, a Samoan woman and daughter of Muliagalapaitagata and Pouliofata, married the King of Tonga. The King also had a Tongan wife who bore him a child, while Leutogitupaitea was unable to conceive. One day, when the Tongan wife went to bathe in the sea, Leutogitupaitea promised to watch over the baby. But consumed by jealousy, she secretly broke a tooth from her hair comb and thrust it into the baby’s head, causing the child to die.
At first, the child’s mother thought the baby had fallen ill naturally, but she later discovered the broken comb tooth lodged in her child’s skull. When the King learned of this, he ordered the people to gather firewood and burn the woman who had killed his child. She was tied in the fork of a Fetau tree, and the wood was stacked around her. As the fire was lit and flames climbed, thousands of flying foxes suddenly appeared, flying overhead and extinguishing the fire with their urine.
Seeing this miracle, the King spared Leutogitupaitea’s life and declared, “This tree shall be called the Fork of Life, for here a woman’s life was saved.” However, he decided to exile her to a deserted island instead. She was taken to Nuutuufua Island, where one night, mysteriously, wood and fruit appeared to help her build a fire and prepare food.
Later, Tuioua visited the island and married Leutogitupaitea. Together, they had two sons: Tonumaipea and Tauiliili.
That concludes today's discussion about Samoan legends. We hoped you enjoyed learning about them!
Check out these other articles written by former team members:
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