Pongaponga: Difference between revisions
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Information on star knowledge on Pukapuka was obtained by ethnographers Ernest and Pearl Beaglehole during 1934 and 1935 (Beaglehole and Beaglehole 1938: 347–353) “from a number of informants” (ibid.: 348). Their report contains a star chart drawn by Robert Dean Frisbie, an American author who lived among the natives and “assisted in the identification of the star names” (ibid.: fig. 55, reproduced below). | Information on star knowledge on Pukapuka was obtained by ethnographers Ernest and Pearl Beaglehole during 1934 and 1935 (Beaglehole and Beaglehole 1938: 347–353) “from a number of informants” (ibid.: 348). Their report contains a star chart drawn by Robert Dean Frisbie, an American author who lived among the natives and “assisted in the identification of the star names” (ibid.: fig. 55, reproduced below). | ||
[[File:Beaglehole and Beaglehole 1938, fig 55.jpg|thumb|589x589px]] | [[File:Beaglehole and Beaglehole 1938, fig 55.jpg|thumb|589x589px]] | ||
Asterism #26 in the chart is identified in the key as “Na Pongaponga-iyu-o-te-kiole (4<sup>ε</sup> and 5 Lyrae)”, which accords with its position in relation to #29 (α , β , γ Aql, “Tolu”), #25 (Corona Borealis, “Te Wale-o-Awitu”) and the | Asterism #26 in the chart is identified in the key as “Na Pongaponga-iyu-o-te-kiole (4<sup>ε</sup> and 5 Lyrae)”, which accords with its position in relation to #29 (α , β , γ Aql, “Tolu”), #25 (Corona Borealis, “Te Wale-o-Awitu”) and the sharks of the Milky Way. It is also listed by Makemson (1941: 245 #489) as ''Nga Pongaponga-iyu-o-te-kiole'' and by Johson, Mahelona and Ruggles (2026: 321) as ''Na Ponga-ponga-iyu-o-te-kiole''. | ||
The rat's tail, ''Te Yiku-o-te-kiole'', is identified as Coma Berenices (#16), suggesting that #25—Corona Borealis,—might be the rat’s body, but it is identified instead as ''Te Wale-o-Awitu'', “the house of Awitu”. | The rat's tail, ''Te Yiku-o-te-kiole'', is identified as Coma Berenices (#16), suggesting that #25—Corona Borealis,—might be the rat’s body, but it is identified instead as ''Te Wale-o-Awitu'', “the house of Awitu”. | ||
Revision as of 09:44, 9 June 2026
Authors: Susanne M Hoffmann, Clive Ruggles, Youla Azkarrula
On the island of Pukapuka, one of the Northern Cook Islands in the South Pacific, the stars ε1 (4) Lyr and ε2 (5) Lyr, two faint stars that can just be separated with the naked eye in good conditions, are known as Na ponga-ponga-iyu-o-te-kiole, “the nostrils of the rat”. The name Ponga-Ponga (“nostrils”) is a suggested shortening of this.
Concordance, Etymology, History
Information on star knowledge on Pukapuka was obtained by ethnographers Ernest and Pearl Beaglehole during 1934 and 1935 (Beaglehole and Beaglehole 1938: 347–353) “from a number of informants” (ibid.: 348). Their report contains a star chart drawn by Robert Dean Frisbie, an American author who lived among the natives and “assisted in the identification of the star names” (ibid.: fig. 55, reproduced below).
Asterism #26 in the chart is identified in the key as “Na Pongaponga-iyu-o-te-kiole (4ε and 5 Lyrae)”, which accords with its position in relation to #29 (α , β , γ Aql, “Tolu”), #25 (Corona Borealis, “Te Wale-o-Awitu”) and the sharks of the Milky Way. It is also listed by Makemson (1941: 245 #489) as Nga Pongaponga-iyu-o-te-kiole and by Johson, Mahelona and Ruggles (2026: 321) as Na Ponga-ponga-iyu-o-te-kiole.
The rat's tail, Te Yiku-o-te-kiole, is identified as Coma Berenices (#16), suggesting that #25—Corona Borealis,—might be the rat’s body, but it is identified instead as Te Wale-o-Awitu, “the house of Awitu”.
A different informant identified the rat as Ursa Major, α, β, γ, and δ UMa being its body and ε, ζ, and η UMa its tail, as drawn in the figure (#17). Beaglehole and Beaglehole (ibid.: 351) conclude that there is “some confusion” with the name Na Pongaponga-iyu-o-te-kiole and suggest that it could be applied to “almost any visible binary”.
Origin of Constellation
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
Mythology
mnemonic tales and cultural significance
Weblinks
References
- References (general)
