Moai

Aku-Aku Eclipse

Easter Island

July 11th, 2010

Back     Contents     Next

Ahu Te Pito Kura

Eclipse 2010 gallery image S074.jpg

2010-07-09 17:45 UTC Click images for enlargements.

This rock structure along the north coast is called “The Navel of the World”. According to legend, the large central stone was brought to the island by King Hotu Matua with the first settlers around a.d. 450, and that it emits mana (spiritual power) to those who sit on the small rocks and place their hands on it. I'm not so sure about that, but what is certain is that the large rock is weakly magnetised: if you move a compass around its surface, the needle goes crazy.

Eclipse 2010 gallery image S075.jpg

2010-07-09 17:45 UTC

Eclipse 2010 gallery image S076.jpg

2010-07-09 17:46 UTC

Inland from the Navel is the Ahu Te Pito Kura platform, with the largest moai ever transported from the quarry and erected on a platform. The moai, almost ten metres tall, has toppled and now lies on its face with its topknot next to it.

Eclipse 2010 gallery image S077.jpg

2010-07-09 17:46 UTC

Eclipse 2010 gallery image S078.jpg

2010-07-09 18:04 UTC

This is the back of the platform, facing the sea.

Eclipse 2010 gallery image S079.jpg

2010-07-09 18:05 UTC

Another toppled moai lies along the back of the platform.


by John Walker
July 20th, 2010
  Back     Contents     Next

This document is in the public domain.