Idols (Moai) of Easter Island – origin, photo, description, map
Our planet is only revealing its secrets to mankind. How many of its corners are yet to be visited and explored? How many amazing discoveries will be made in the foreseeable future? It is very difficult to give a definite answer to all these questions. At almost every step, we all come across amazing phenomena and phenomena, which thousands of scientists around the world are trying in vain to explain. Unusual finds that are scattered around the globe are just waiting for their “finest hour” to discover their true nature and purpose.
How to get to Easter Island, read our article.
Today I propose to go together to one of the most unusual islands – Easter Island, which belongs to the Latin American state of Chile. It was here that amazing giants made of stone – monolithic statues of Moai – appeared for the first time before the discoverers of distant lands. Officially, they are known as the idols of Easter Island. It is believed that the statues were created by the natives who inhabited the island. Stone sculptures date back to 10-15 centuries. In addition, the island is simply “teeming” with interesting finds in the form of ancient caves, grooved alleys that go somewhere into the ocean. All this indicates that the island was once the center of a nation unknown to archaeologists with unusual traditions and unique customs. Interested? Still would!
Story
Not every one of us knows why the island got such an unusual name. The first impression that the name is tied to a famous holiday turns out to be correct. The island was first visited by Europeans in 1722. It was in this year that a ship from Holland under the command of Jacob Roggeveen dropped its anchor off the coast of a distant Pacific island. Since overseas lands were discovered just at the time of the celebration of Easter, the island received the appropriate name.
It was here that one of the most impressive man-made phenomena of the entire civilization was discovered – stone statues of Moai. Thanks to the stone statues, the island has become known throughout the world and is rightfully considered one of the main tourist centers of the Southern Hemisphere.
The purpose of the statues
Since the statues appeared on the island in ancient times, their size and shape evoke thoughts of extraterrestrial origin. Although it was still possible to establish that the statues were created by local tribes that once inhabited the island. Despite the fact that several centuries have passed since the discovery of the island, scientists still have not been able to unravel the true purpose of the stone giants. They were credited with the role of tombstones, and places for worshiping pagan gods, they were even considered as real monuments to the famous islanders.
The first descriptions of the Dutch navigator help to form a definite impression of the significance of the statues. For example, the discoverer in his diary noted that near the statues, the natives made fires and prayed. But the most surprising thing was that the natives did not differ in a developed culture and could not boast of certain achievements in construction or some technologies developed even for that time. Accordingly, a completely logical question arose about how these tribes, living according to primitive customs, could create such amazing statues.
Numerous researchers made the most unusual assumptions. Initially, it was believed that the statues were made of clay or even brought from the mainland. But soon all these conjectures were refuted. The statues were completely monolithic. Skillful authors created their masterpieces directly from the fragments of rocks with the help of primitive tools.
Only after the island was visited by the famous navigator Cook, who was accompanied by a Polynesian who understood the language of the natives of the island, it became known that the stone statues were not at all dedicated to the gods. They were installed in honor of the rulers of ancient tribes.
How the statues were made
As already mentioned, the statues were carved out of monolithic fragments of stony rocks in the quarry of the volcano. The work on creating unique giants began with the face, gradually moving to the sides and arms. All statues are made in the form of long busts without legs. When the Moai were ready, they were transported to the place of installation and erected on a stone pedestal. But how these multi-ton giants moved from the quarry of the volcano to the stone pedestals over a great distance is still the main mystery of Easter Island. Just imagine how much force could be required to deliver a 5-meter stone giant, whose average weight reached 5 tons! And sometimes there were statues more than 10 meters in height and weighing more than 10 tons.
Every time humanity is faced with something inexplicable, a lot of legends are born. That's what happened this time as well. According to local lore, the huge statues were once able to walk. Having reached the island, they lost this amazing ability and remained here forever. But this is nothing more than a colorful legend. Another legend says that the untold riches of the Inca people were hidden inside each statue. In pursuit of easy money, antiquities hunters and “black archaeologists” destroyed more than one statue. But nothing but disappointment awaited them inside.
Is the mystery solved?
Not so long ago, a group of American scientists who were engaged in the study of ancient giants, announced that they came close to unraveling the Moai statues. The researchers claim that the transportation of the statues was carried out in groups using primitive lifting mechanisms, huge carts and even large animals. Since the statue was transported in an upright position, from a distance it seemed as if the stone block was moving independently.
Tourism
From the very moment when tourism began to develop at a crazy pace, when the popularity of this type of outdoor activity and pastime gained immense popularity among lovers of the exotic and just curious citizens, Easter Island has become a real place of excitement. Thousands of people come from all over the world to look at the amazing stone statues. Each statue is unique and has its own decoration, shape and size. Many of them have bizarre headdresses. By the way, hats differ in color. And, as it turned out, they were made elsewhere.
Mounted on special pedestals, these silent creations of human hands cause sincere admiration from everyone who was lucky enough to see them with their own eyes. They seem to peer with their “dead eyes” deep into the island or into the blue expanse of the ocean. If they could speak, how many interesting things could they tell about the life of their creators? How many mysteries could be comprehended without being tormented by numerous conjectures?
The most popular place to visit is the Tongariki platform. On the stone base, 15 statues of different sizes were placed at once. The statues have preserved many traces of civil wars and other destructive events that the island was subjected to. There is information that in 1960 a monstrous tsunami hit the island, which threw stone sculptures 100 meters deep into the island. Residents managed to recreate the platform on their own.
Finding a platform is not difficult. It is located in close proximity to the Rano Raraku volcano, which became their deposit. Taking pictures among the giant Moai is the sacred duty of every tourist who has visited the Chilean island. According to “experienced photo hunters”, the best time for photo shoots is sunset and sunrise. In the rays of the sun, stone giants appear in a different, unusual beauty.
The mere sight of these stone giants causes awe and respect for their creators, makes you think about your life and true place in the Universe. The giants of Easter Island are one of the most mysterious creations, the secret of which we all have yet to learn. They came to us from the quarry of the volcano and carry a still unknown mystery of thousands of centuries.
How to get there
Unfortunately, getting to Easter Island even today is very problematic. Although there are two simple ways – air and water – they are still quite expensive. The first method will require you to purchase a ticket for a regular plane. You can fly from the capital of Chile, Santiago. The flight will take at least 5 hours. You can also get to Easter Island by cruise ship or yacht. Many tourist ships that pass off the coast of the island are happy to enter the local port, providing their passengers with a unique opportunity to touch the ancient history of the mysterious island.
If you have the opportunity to visit this amazing island, which is located on the edge of the world, take it. After all, life is very short, and so you want to have time to visit many places, solve centuries-old mysteries and personally touch the ancient monuments.
I also recommend visiting the Chile Chico Marble Caves in Chile.