Oro: God of War and the Arioi Society
Oro, son of Ta'aroa, was the Tahitian god of war and peace. He descended to earth on a rainbow and took a mortal woman as his wife, establishing the Arioi—a secret society of warriors, artists, and priests who spread his cult throughout the Society Islands. The Arioi traveled between islands performing sacred dances, chants, and dramatic performances honoring Oro. They had elaborate initiation grades, and their ceremonies involved ritual drama, feasting, and human sacrifice. Oro became the most powerful deity of Tahiti, displacing Tane as the chief god. His cult reached its height at the marae