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Why do the Easter island statues face inland?
The story goes that the people who built the Moai believed that they were the only people in the whole world. Any invaders or bad people that would be coming would have to come from within the island – not by sea! So the Moai face inwards to protect the community.
Why are the moai statues considered to be sacred?
Many archaeologists suggest that “[the] statues were thus symbols of authority and power, both religious and political. But they were not only symbols. To the people who erected and used them, they were actual repositories of sacred spirit.
Why were the moai placed around the island?
Researchers have discovered that the moai statues were delibrately placed close to freshwater lakes, which were scarce on the island. They believe that the Rapa Nui people placed the statues in specific spots to indicate that fresh water was nearby, as well as to assert territorial control over certain bodies of water.
Are there any Easter Islanders left?
The Rapa Nui are the indigenous Polynesian people of Easter Island. At the 2017 census there were 7,750 island inhabitants—almost all living in the village of Hanga Roa on the sheltered west coast. As of 2011, Rapa Nui’s main source of income derived from tourism, which focuses on the giant sculptures called moai.
What is the mystery of the Easter Island statues?
What purpose do the statues of Easter island Have? Archaeologists suggest that the statues were a representation of the Polynesian people’s ancestors. The Moai statues face away from the sea and towards the villages, by way of watching over the people. So here at Ahu Tongariki these Moai look over a flat village site.
Why are there so few upright moai on Oahu?
This is partly because of the disproportionate size of most moai heads, and partly because many of the iconic images for the island showing upright moai are the statues on the slopes of Rano Raraku, many of which are buried to their shoulders.
Why do the moai statues face away from the ocean?
The moai statues face away from the ocean and towards the villages as if to watch over the people. The exception is the seven Ahu Akivi which face out to sea to help travelers find the island. There is a legend that says there were seven men who waited for their king to arrive.
Why are Moai called Easter Island heads?
Though moai are whole-body statues, they are often referred to as “Easter Island heads” in some popular literature. This is partly because of the disproportionate size of most moai heads, and partly because many of the iconic images for the island showing upright moai are the statues on the slopes of Rano Raraku,…
How did the moai walk from the quarries?
Recent experimental recreations have proven that it is fully possible that the moai were literally walked from their quarries to their final positions by ingenious use of ropes. Teams of workers would have worked to rock the moai back and forth, creating the walking motion and holding the moai upright.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4U5Y7MSAJc