Myths of the Sky

The sky and earth are an important part of Oceania. However, the sky is detached from earthly morals. In fact, the sky women came to the earth to dig up red ochre, which they used for body decoration. As a result, thunder, mist, clouds, and lightning descended causing the people to avoid being around that area. As equally important, birds were of magical and spiritual significance to the people.

One day a hunter shot his arrow at a bird and the bird continued to fly. Immediately, he followed the bird to find a human man on a veranda pulling a thorn out of his foot. In the same way, another hunter shot a very colorful bird with an arrow and though he killed it. Come to find out, the bird he thought he had killed was a young woman whom he married.


Willis, Roy. "Myths of the Sky." World Mythology. Canada: Henry Holt and Company, 1993.