Nei Tituaabine

Nei Tituaabine Oceania
The Gilbertese vegetation goddess. According to legend, the great chief Auriaria, red-skinned and of a giant's stature, fell in love with Nei Tituaabine, a red-skinned maiden with eyes that flashed like lightning. But their lovemaking bore no fruit, and soon Nei Tituaabine fell ill and died. From the grave of this beautiful girl, however, three trees grew; out of her head sprouted the coconut palm, out of her navel the almond, and out of her heels the pandanus. Nei Tituaabine thus was transformed into the tree goddess and her memory preserved.