manuel cohen

Marae Taputapuatea, Taputapuatea, Raiatea, Society Islands, French Polynesia

Pile of ritual offerings and carved wooden Unu representing the guardian of an ancestor, in front of the ahu of Marae Taputapuatea, c. 1000 AD, a large religious and ceremonial temple site with a 60 x 45m stone courtyard and an ahu or altar made from 3m high standing stones cut from coral, at Taputapuatea, at Te Po, in the Opoa valley, on the island of Raiatea, in the Leeward Islands, Society Islands, French Polynesia. This marae marks the spot where Ta'aroa, creator and father of all Polynesian gods, first stepped on the earth. In the 17th century, it was rededicated to the god Oro, son of Ta'aroa and god of beauty, fertility and war. This site was a meeting place and sacrificial site for travellers from all over the Pacific. Picture by Manuel Cohen

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Filename: LC17_POLYNESIA_MC_194.jpg
Image Size: 7087x4724 / 16.2MB; www.manuelcohen.com; 1000 AD ahu altar ancestor archaeological archaeology archeological archeology Archipel de la Societe ceremonial coast coastal collectivite d'outre-mer de la Republique francaise color colour COM day exterior Fenua Raro Mata’i French Polynesia French territory guardian Havai'i Havaii horizontal Iles de la Societe Iles Sous-le-vent image island lagoon Leeward Islands marae Marae Taputapuatea morning ocean Oceania offering Opoa Oro outdoors outside overseas collectivity Pacific island Pacific Ocean paepae platform Polynesia Polynesian Triangle Polynesie Polynesie Francaise Ra'iatea Raiatea religion religious ritual sacred sea site Society Islands stone Tamara Taputapuatea Te Po temple Totaiete ma unu
Contained in galleries: Polynesia, Oceania

Pile of ritual offerings and carved wooden Unu representing the guardian of an ancestor, in front of the ahu of Marae Taputapuatea, c. 1000 AD, a large religious and ceremonial temple site with a 60 x 45m stone courtyard and an ahu or altar made from 3m high standing stones cut from coral, at Taputapuatea, at Te Po, in the Opoa valley, on the island of Raiatea, in the Leeward Islands, Society Islands, French Polynesia. This marae marks the spot where Ta'aroa, creator and father of all Polynesian gods, first stepped on the earth. In the 17th century, it was rededicated to the god Oro, son of Ta'aroa and god of beauty, fertility and war. This site was a meeting place and sacrificial site for travellers from all over the Pacific. Picture by Manuel Cohen