Located in the Easter Island, those magnificent monumental statues have been protecting the land for many many years.
They were built by the locals, known as the Rapa Nui people.
Many archeologists visited the island in order to find out how those statues were built, but more importantly how they were transferred and lifted in specific locations.
After many trial and error methods, the archeologists and the locals found a way of recreating those statues using volcano's cold lava, lifting them to a base using only ropes and wood, sliding this base on trunks of trees, and slowly moving those statues to their designated locations.
It took a lot of time and men power. But they made it happen.
Who were the geniuses behind those monuments? And what was the purpose of them?
Little is known about the Rapa Nui people. But here's what I managed to gather about them...
The Rapa Nui people migrated to the island between 300 - 1200 AD. After examining their DNA from discovered skeletons, they have been genetically connected to European and Amerindian people. And hence historians believe that they could have migrated from afar land.
The Rapa Nui were very organized and structured. They had a hierarchy which was led by the God Matatoa, followed by the King and Priests.
The people believed in a power called "Mana" which came from Matatoa. This Mana was to protect the Island from foreigners, to protect the locals from other Islanders, to fertile the land and soil and enhance agriculture, to be prosperous and healthy.
The Moai were built as representatives and decedents of Matatoa. If you look carefully, some of the statues have bright white eyes. It was believed that through these eyes, or "Mata", the statues can use the Mana to protect the people.
It was a good era for the Rapa Nui for they have divided the Easter Island and formed different clans. On the base of the Moai, the archeologists found several symbols representing the different divisions. Some of them had a hook, which represented the Mipu, which was where the Royal family stayed, others had trees, representing the clan that was in the middle of the Island, etc
As the population grew, famine became an inevitable problem.
They were built by the locals, known as the Rapa Nui people.
Many archeologists visited the island in order to find out how those statues were built, but more importantly how they were transferred and lifted in specific locations.
After many trial and error methods, the archeologists and the locals found a way of recreating those statues using volcano's cold lava, lifting them to a base using only ropes and wood, sliding this base on trunks of trees, and slowly moving those statues to their designated locations.
It took a lot of time and men power. But they made it happen.
Who were the geniuses behind those monuments? And what was the purpose of them?
Little is known about the Rapa Nui people. But here's what I managed to gather about them...
The Rapa Nui people migrated to the island between 300 - 1200 AD. After examining their DNA from discovered skeletons, they have been genetically connected to European and Amerindian people. And hence historians believe that they could have migrated from afar land.
The Rapa Nui were very organized and structured. They had a hierarchy which was led by the God Matatoa, followed by the King and Priests.
The people believed in a power called "Mana" which came from Matatoa. This Mana was to protect the Island from foreigners, to protect the locals from other Islanders, to fertile the land and soil and enhance agriculture, to be prosperous and healthy.
The Moai were built as representatives and decedents of Matatoa. If you look carefully, some of the statues have bright white eyes. It was believed that through these eyes, or "Mata", the statues can use the Mana to protect the people.
It was a good era for the Rapa Nui for they have divided the Easter Island and formed different clans. On the base of the Moai, the archeologists found several symbols representing the different divisions. Some of them had a hook, which represented the Mipu, which was where the Royal family stayed, others had trees, representing the clan that was in the middle of the Island, etc
As the population grew, famine became an inevitable problem.