Post #76350 by christiki295 on Mon, Feb 16, 2004 1:33 PM

The Easter Island Moai were representations of "gods, spirits and ancestral chiefs," according to Splendid Isolation by the Met.

Similarly, Easter Island by Carlos Mordo states that Hotu Matu'a, the first chief brought along a moai symbolizing ancestors, which became the model for the large moai.

Mordo's book also states:

"the great megalithic ceremonial structures were similar to the 'marae' of the Marquesas and the Society Islands" and "the red cylindrical headdresses (pukao) worn by the great statues were also found in the Marquesas, Hawaii and in New Zealand's wood carvings."

However, it seems appropriate to rule out Hawaii as the origin of the first tiki as is generally understood that both the native Rapa Nui and the native Hawaiians arrived from other portions of Polynesia, the Marquesas/Tahiti or New Zealand or Hawaii.

Also, the styles and purposes do not appear to be particlularly similar, as the Hawaiians had different tikis for the different gods, Lono, Ku, etc. and were for different purposes, whereas on Easter Island, the tikis seem to have more of a direct link of transferring mana to the chiefs or community.

However, does anyone have more specific info and/or know the place of origin of the first tiki?

Thanks.

[ Edited by: christiki295 on 2004-02-16 14:04 ]