Tiki statue, Museum of Tahiti and the Islands, Punaauia, Tahiti, Society Islands, French Polynesia

Carved wooden tiki stela, 173cm tall, from Hohoi, on Ua Pou, Marquesas Islands, the only one found on the island, in the Musee de Tahiti et des Iles, or Te Fare Manaha, at Punaauia, on the island of Tahiti, in the Windward Islands, Society Islands, French Polynesia. This tiki differs from others in that it is more in proportion, with gaps between the arms and torso, hands on the stomach and small male genitals. This tiki formed part of the facade of the funerary building where the dead were displayed on the paepae or sacred platform at Hakaohoka. Tikis are protective statues representing Ti’i, a half-human half-god ancestor who is believed to be the first man. The Museum of Tahiti and the Islands was opened in 1974 and displays collections of nature and anthropology, habitations and artefacts, social and religious life and the history of French Polynesia. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Filename

LC17_POLYNESIA_MC_267.jpg

Copyright

© Manuel Cohen

Image Size

4724x7087 / 6.1MB

www.manuelcohen.com

ancestor archaeological archaeology archeological archeology Archipel de la Societe collection collectivite d'outre-mer de la Republique francaise color colour COM education figure French Polynesia French territory funerary building guardian Hakaohoka Hohoi Iles de la Societe Iles du Vent image indoors inside interior island Marquesas Islands Musee de Tahiti et des Iles museum Museum of Tahiti and the Islands Oceania overseas collectivity Pacific island Pacific Ocean Polynesia Polynesian Triangle Polynesie Polynesie Francaise Punaauia sculpture Society Islands statue stela stele Tahiti Tahitian Te Fare Manaha ti'i tiki Totaiete ma tourism tourist attraction travel Ua Pou vertical Windward Islands wood wooden

Contained in galleries

Polynesia, Oceania