Huri A Urenga

Ahu Huri A Urenga::Easter Island::
Ahu Huri A Urenga
Unusual Moai::Easter Island::
Unusual Moai
The Four Hands Moai::Easter Island::
The Four Hands Moai
Huri A Urenga Statue::Easter Island::
Huri A Urenga Statue

On Easter Island, east of Hanga Roa, on a low hill surrounded by several peaks, stands a single moai. The rectangular shaped elevated ahu was built in perfect alignment with rising sun over the peak of Maunga Puakatiki at the winter solstice. The moai "looks" at this direction and its shadow was most likely used to determine solstices and equinoxes. The statue itself is unusual because of its four hands carved on the belly. This probably represents four seasons or maybe a symbol of four cardinal directions. Huri A Urenga gives us additional information about the lost culture on Rapa Nui and suggests the complexity of activities that were associated with these monolithic sculptures.


© 2009 Maciej Swulinski