ANCIENT MYSTERIES OF THE EASTER ISLAND
Ever heard of the Easter Island? If you haven’t, fret not! You’re not alone. Easter Island has not garnered its due publicity given the fact that it’s the world’s most remote yet inhabited island. Located off the coast of Chile, this remote island has more than a few ancient mysteries that surround its barren shores.
The island plays host to three extinct volcanoes, and can literally be dubbed as being a single massive volcano, of sorts, that rises into the air from the Pacific Ocean floor. It gets its name from a Dutch sea captain called Jacob Roggeveen, who landed here on an Easter Sunday, and became the first ever European to set foot on the mud here.
MOAI
The most common and famous features of the culture that inhabits this land are gigantic stone statues that are dubbed ‘moai’ by the locals. They stand atop large stone platforms which are called ‘ahu’. These ahu platforms create a perimeter of sorts, with 250 of them having been placed around the surface of this island. 600 more moai statues can be seen around the region, some of which have not been completely carved.
These statues were carved from the ultra-strong stone of the Rano Raruku volcano (one of the three dormant volcanoes here). They average at a height of around 14 feet and weigh roundabout 15 tons each. There are records of one such moai which has been partially quarried. It is estimated to be around 65 feet long and weight approximately 270 tons.
What is even more interesting is that this island was known by a name ‘te-pito-o-te-henua’ which means ‘the navel of the world’. This ancient name was ignored by archaeologists who worked on these areas. Some researchers suggest that this island may have been a marker of sorts for the civilization that inhabited these lands years ago. The mariners of this world may have been responsible for charting the world’s oceans. As Hancock, in his book ‘Heaven’s Mirror’ suggests, Easter Island may have been the center of scientific research and outpost. Its location had a significant bearing on its knowledge carriers.
The Easter Island may have several ancient mysteries buried under its ground, but this one fact that Hancock speaks about points in the direction of speculation – that this region was chosen for settlement, primarily because of its location. It may have had a role to play in the system of sky-ground co-ordinates, which may have had to play a major role in connecting various other important locations in the universe.
The truth behind this island and its moais and its ahus may not be known, but these ancient mysteries continue to baffle people who have spent a significant part of their lives researching these regions and the legends and myths that go with it.
The ancient mysteries of Easter Island continues to baffle people with their moais and ahus. Please read full story on Sacred Travel guide
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