Marae Taputapuatea, Taputapuatea, Raiatea, Society

Standing stone or ofa i turui, representing the position of a god during ceremonies, by 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. In the distance is Marae Hauviri or Marae Taura'a-a-tapu, family temple of Tamatoa, with the Te-Papa-tea-o-Ruea stone, brought by the god Hiro to found the chiefdoms or ari'i on Raiatea. Hauviri was the welcoming marae which received visitors as they disembarked from their canoes. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13438872

Media ID

45136107

Size

7087px x 4236px (12.6MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen