SECTION:
The Mountain and Cultural Aesthetic
Anne Holden Rønning (Bergen/Norway)
Mythological Mountain CultureMountains have been surrounded by an ideology of myth since time immemorial often with religious connotations, as ways of exploring and explaining the origins and history of peoples, as well as topographical phenomena. Against theories of myth this paper will investigate some of the background for these beliefs, especially in relation to First Peoples. This will be illustrated by looking at the role mountains or rocks play in Aboriginal and Maori myth and legend in particular.
A land best known for its deserts, Australia has some mountain ranges (e.g. the Blue Mountains) and a monolithic rock - Uluru (Mount Ayers) both of which are imbued with the legend and myth of aboriginal 'Dreamtime.' Maori myth and legend surrounding New Zealand mountains is closely linked to interpretations of the coming of the Maori to New Zealand.
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