Pacific Art: Moai, Nan Madol, Feather Capes & Staff Gods

Moai

Large stone sculptures found on Easter Island; likely depict rulers or ancestors.

Moai function

Carved to commemorate important ancestors and display status.

Moai orientation

All moai face with their backs to the sea; they are guardians.

Statue symbolism

Statues represent ancestors deified after death.

Ahu

Pedestal or platform for the moai on Easter Island.

Tuff

Rock made from volcanic ash.

Basalt

A hard, dark volcanic stone quarried from the large hills on Easter Island.

Eye sockets

Originally inlaid with red stone and coral in Moai sculptures.

Transportation theory 1

Moai may have been moved on a sled.

Transportation theory 2

Moai may have been rolled on logs.

Topknots

Likely represent chieftains on some Moai statues.

Easter Island discovery

Discovered on Easter 1722 by the Dutch.

Old theory of island collapse

Island depleted its resources and deforested itself, causing a decline in food.

New theory of island collapse

Exposure to European diseases between 1722 and 1774 led to population decline.

Nan Madol

A political seat of the Saudeleur Dynasty in Pohnpei, Micronesia.

Man-made islands

92 islands constructed in a lagoon using large rocks atop submerged coral reefs.

Ashlar masonry

Construction technique used in Nan Madol; no mortar was used.

Political function of Nan Madol

Chiefs required potential rivals and aristocrats to live in the city for easier monitoring.

Social status in Nan Madol

Size of residences indicated the wealth of the elite.

Population of Nan Madol

Population did not exceed 1,000 on the islands; total kingdom population was 30,000.

Saudeleur Dynasty

Deeply religious community focused on worship of the sea; sea dragons were believed to have built Nan Madol.

Abandonment of Nan Madol

Site was abandoned in the 19th century.

Ahu 'ula

Term used for Hawaiian feather cloaks.

Oceanic Style

Artistic style associated with the Pacific Islands.

Hawaiian Culture

Culture of the Hawaiian Islands, known for its rich traditions.

Feathers and Fiber

Materials used in the construction of the Ahu 'ula.

Olona Fiber

Type of fiber used to create the netting for feather capes.

Ali'i

Hawaiian male nobility, the ruling hereditary elite.

Mana

Supernatural power associated with those of high rank.

Crescent Shape

Unique shape of the Hawaiian Ahu 'ula compared to other feather capes.

Ceremonies and Battles

Occasions when Hawaiian nobility wore the Ahu 'ula.

Red Color

Color associated with gods and chiefs, only worn by royalty.

Yellow Feathers

Sign of wealth due to their scarcity.

Staff God

A sacred object from Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Tapa

Oceanic cloth made from bark that is soaked, beaten, dyed, and decorated.

Tangaroa

Creator god that the Staff God might represent.

Fertility and Abundance

Concepts likely associated with the function of the Staff God.

Reproductive Qualities

Embodied by the materials of the Staff God, wood and cloth.

Cook Islands

Location of the Staff God, settled around 800-1000 CE.

Christianization

Process that led to the destruction of native practices in the Cook Islands.

Missionaries

Individuals who removed and destroyed phalluses in the Cook Islands.

British Protectorate

Status of the Cook Islands in 1888.

Annexed by the British

Status of the Cook Islands in 1901.

Decorative Arts

Artistic expressions that include the Ahu 'ula and Staff God.

Status and Power

Themes associated with the Ahu 'ula and its wearers.

Ceremony

Significant events where the Ahu 'ula was prominently featured.

Materials with Significance

Concept reflecting the importance of the materials used in both artifacts.

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