Summary with Moa Easter Island
MOAI Rapa Nui Most of the history of the island Easter to this day unknown. It is believed that Polynesians settled on the Pacific Island even to our era. In the 14th century, maybe the second colonization occurred. Legend says that the legendary king Hot Matuy led his followers to this territory with West.
Easter Island famous for its stone statues of human figures known as MOAI (translated "Statue"), it is also known for its inhabitants as Brine&# 8211;Well. Historical sources report that such statues were erected for a long time: approximately from 1000 years before our era until the second half of the 17th century. For several hundred years, residents of this remote island mined, cut out and built about 887 MOAI. The size and complexity of such figures increased over time. Interesting the fact that the backs of Moi are turned to the sea, apparently, in order to look after the island. With adoption Christianity In the 1860s, the remaining MOAIs were overthrown. For these Sculptures Very characteristic of the unusual proportions of the length of the head and body.
One of the most interesting statues of the MOAI is Hoa Khakananai ("Lost or stolen friend"), which is dated about 1200th year of our era. This is one of the fourteen MOAIs made from basalt, the rest were cut out of a softer volcanic tuff of the island. Basalt hard cut, because it does not forgive mistakes. Sculpture probably was ordered by a man with high status. Little forehead, oval nostrils and long ears look like a number of Easter Island figures. Thin lips are bent down, giving the face strict, uncompromising expression. The clavicle is emphasized, the hands are thin and tightly adjacent to the body, there are almost no palms, the ears are long, from the head of the head. The back of the shape is covered with ceremonial patterns, which are believed to be added later. They show images related to the cult of birds on the island, which arose in about 1400.NS. The key ritual of the cult of birds was an annual test of power and endurance, in which leaders and their followers competed, after which the winning leader represented God-Creator Mchamak next year. On the top of the back and shoulders, two birds are carved to each other. They have human hands and legs and heads of the Fregat. In the center of the head, a small bird with an open beak is cut, on the sides of which the ceremonial dance oars are crushed, known as "AO", With those depicted on them.
This sculpture demonstrates the loss of confidence in the power of the ancestors after the loss of forests and the environmental collapse. After all, with the arrival of a person, the fragile ecosystem of the island collapsed. From huge green forests there were only stones and seabirds, nesting on safer sea rocks and islands. As these changes occurred, religion Brine&# 8211;Well also turned In the cult of birds. People may never be able to truly understand why the high culture of Rapa Nui came to the end, but it makes it Easter Island such a fascinating travel destination.
