Matariki Vs Pleiades

The Justice League compared two cultures myths of Matariki.

June the 6th marked the start of Matariki also known as Maori New Year. This time of year was traditionally used to remember and honour those who have died in the last year, and to celebrate the harvest of fruits, vegetables, fish and birds. There are many cultures who recognise the seven stars, two of which are the Maori and the Greek.

Cultural Myths - Kaelem

There are many cultural myths about the seven stars. One of the myths are from the Maori culture of Aotearoa. Maori used the stars to find they way around the seas they also used the starts to find the change of seasons. Greeks mythology says the stars were created by ancient gods. The Greeks studied astrology as part of their education.  

Creation Stories - Joshua

Both cultures have myths to explain the creation of the seven stars. The Maori believed that the gods created Matariki while the Greeks thought that the gods and the mortals created Pleiades. One of the Greek myths was that the god Zeus turned seven of Pleione’s children into stars and scattered them into the night sky.

Different names - Dineesh

Both cultures name the seven stars of Matariki. In Maori some of the star names include

Tupu-a-rangi which means grow a day, Tupu-a-nuku which means grow and move, Waiti which means white, Waita which means song, Waipuna-a-rangi , Uru-a-rangi and Matariki.

In Greek the names include Atlas, Taygeta, Pleione, Maia, Merope, Electra and Alcyone which are named after characters in ancient Greek mythology.

Many Myths - Rhea

There are many Greek and Maori myths surrounding Matariki. One of the Maori myths on how the Matariki stars (seven sisters) were made was how Tane-Mahuta was jealous of a very bright star. Tane-Mahuta got so jealous that he hurled the bright star so hard that it splintered into seven pieces. One of the Greek myths was that Greek god leader, Zeus, fought a war against the giant Titans. The Greek gods won and since Zeus was so angry at Atlas, he made Atlas hold the world on his shoulders. But he was still angry at Atlas, so he took all of his daughters and threw them into the sky.  

Six Sisters - Caleb

Both Greek and Maori stories include six sisters but include them differently. For many Maori, Matariki is a mother and her six daughters. In Greek myths the Pleiades stars are named after Atlas and Pleiones daughters.

Learning about the origins of Matariki is important because it is part of our New Zealand culture. In Maori it is a time of year to remember people who have passed away and be grateful for what we have (Harvest). Even though we don’t harvest crops it is still a good idea to be thankful for what we have.