Stony silence
- POSTED ON: 2 Apr, 2024
- TOTAL VIEWS: 143 Views
- POSTED BY: Madhuvanti S. Krishnan | Text: Rohini Ramakrishnan
- ARTICLE POINTS: 150 Points
A little more than 250 years ago, a Dutch navigator Admiral Jacob Roggeveen became the first European to set foot on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean, at the southernmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. Since April 5, 1772, was Easter Sunday, he named the island Paasch Eyland (Easter Island in Dutch). Located around 3,800 km off the coast of Chile, the island was formed by three volcanoes (now extinct) rising from the sea floor.
The island is known for the massive statues or moai that were created by the indigenous Rapa Nui people. They are believed to have reached the island around 1200 CE from other Polynesian islands. According to oral tradition, Chief Hotu Matu’a led his people from Cook Islands over to this island to settle. Over time, crops like banana, sweet potato, gourds, sugarcane, taro and yams were cultivated. After the arrival of the Europeans, animals such as sheep, horses, cattle and pigs were introduced.
The most famous feature of the island are the gigantic statues, which stand on stone platforms known as ahu. While some statues are finished, others end at the top of the thighs. A few are shown kneeling with their hands on the stomach. While a few face the sea, a majority are situated facing inwards, as if to protect the inhabitants. Each moai is carved from a single block of stone. The faces have long noses and ears. Some statues have a cylinder-like object on the head, which is carved from volcanic rock. These seem to have been carved elsewhere and add to the statue after it was erected. The largest moai was around 32 ft tall. Most of the others are between 10 to 20ft tall.
Fun facts
The moai are popularly referred to as Easter Island Heads because, when discovered, many were buried up to the shoulders.
The majority of the statues are carved from tuff, a form of volcanic ash. Other materials include red scoria, trachyte, and basalt.
Easter Island is also called Te Pito O Te Henua which means the world’s navel.
It is one of the world’s remotest and least inhabited islands.
Every year, in February, the island celebrates the Tapati Rapa Nui festival with activities such as wood carving and music. The islanders play on eight-string flat ukuleles, which are unique.