Olifat : The Trickster God
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At a glance
| Description | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Micronesian Mythology |
| Classification | Gods |
| Family Members | Lugeilan (Father), Tarisso (Mother), Lugoapup (Sister) |
| Region | Micronesian Islands |
| Associated With | Trickery, Sharks |
Olifat
Introduction
Olifat was the Micronesian equivalent of the Norse god Loki, M’ii the coyote, the African Anansi or the Korean Seokga who were known as trickster gods in their respective mythology. In the myths of the people of the Pacific island nation of Micronesia, the adventures of a trickster known as Olifat were common. He was often cruel to the gods, made fools of men, and caused death and injury to humans. Despite his harmful behaviour, he sometimes helped people by giving them advice on love and other personal matters.
Physical Traits
Olifat was considered to be unconventional looking which made him think he was unattractive and made him jealous towards all living beings. Olifat was a precocious baby who matured miraculously fast and demonstrated feats of strength.
Family
Olifat was the child of the god Lugeilan and Tarisso, the daughter of the octopus goddess Hit. When Lugeleng’s wife Hamulul attempted to prevent his union with Tarisso, Hit performed a sexual act that caused her to faint, which allowed Olifat to be conceived. Olifat was born from the head of his mother and after he was born, he ran away, bit off his umbilical cord and cleaned the blood from his body. He also refused to be touched by humans and began his life as a recluse.
He was jealous of his siblings because they were more attractive. When he saw two of his cousins playing with a shark, he decided to give the sharks teeth to bite them. His sister, Lugoapup, then blamed him for the incident and the gods then decided to send Olifat to Heaven due to the numerous problems he caused on Earth.
Other Names
Olifat is also known as Yelofath, Iolafath, Orafat, Wolphat, Olofat, Olofath, and Orofat depending on the area that he is being worshipped in.
Powers and Abilities
An incorrigible and successful seducer, Olifat is known to help men get their partners back. He can also be utilized to seek romantic advice through visions and dreams. In parts of the Caroline Islands, he is known for introducing erotic and magical tattoos.
He is also known to cause various problems in the lives of the people of the islands, such as termite infestations and sour wine. He is also said to be responsible for the shark’s teeth, the stingray’s tail and the spines of the scorpionfish. He is believed to have accomplished the Promethean achievement of bringing humanity the power of fire by creating a bird that brought down a glowing ember from the sun.
Modern Day Influence
Olifat has been an inspiration to artists and storytellers in the recent times. He is also a boss level character in a few video games and the MMORPG universe.
Related Images
Sources
Encyclopedia.com. (n.d.). Micronesian mythology. In Gale Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Religion. Retrieved October 31, 2025, from https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/micronesian-mythology
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, October 31). Olifat. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olifat
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, October 31). Micronesian mythology. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micronesian_mythology
Pantheon.org. (n.d.). Olifat – Micronesian trickster god. In Encyclopedia Mythica. Retrieved October 31, 2025, from https://pantheon.org/articles/o/olifat.html
Occult World. (n.d.). Olifat – Micronesian trickster god. Retrieved October 31, 2025, from https://occult-world.com/olifat/
Pulotu Database. (n.d.). Chuuk culture. Retrieved October 31, 2025, from https://pulotu.com/culture/chuuk
Leach, M. (Ed.). (1984). Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend (Vols. 1–2). New York, NY: Harper & Row. (Referenced indirectly via Pantheon.org and Occult-World summaries.)
Marshall Islands Mission of the Micronesian Seminar (MICSEM). (n.d.). Summoning the powers beyond: The religion of the Chuukic-speaking islands. Retrieved October 31, 2025, from https://www.micsem.org/pubs/books/Summoning-the-Powers-Beyond.pdf
Myths and Legends of Micronesia. (1951). In Anthropos Journal of Ethnology and Anthropology. St. Gabriel Mission Press, Austria.
Krämer, A. (1932). Mythen und Märchen aus den Karolinen und Marshall-Inseln. Stuttgart, Germany: Strecker und Schröder.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the myth of olifat?
Olifat is a Micronesian trickster god known for his mischievous pranks and harmful actions. He is blamed for various problems in Micronesian life, but is also credited with bringing humanity the secret of fire.
Who is the god of Micronesian?
Olifat is a trickster god in Micronesian mythology, not the primary or overarching god of the region. There are various deities in Micronesian beliefs, each with their own domain and influence.
