Orongo hosted the Birdman competition: competitors climbed down ~300m cliffs, swam to Motu Nui island, retrieved sooty tern eggs, and the winner's chief became king. Rituals could last up to 30 days! 🏔️
Orongo: Birdman ceremony site with ancient competition rituals
Chile, Easter IslandHeritage
Key facts
- Orongo is the site of the Birdman competition (Tangatu Manu)
- Representatives from each tribe would climb 200m down cliffs, swim to Motu Nui island, retrieve a bird egg, and climb back
- The winner's chieftain became the island's king for that year
- The competition could last up to 30 days while warriors waited for migrating birds
- Warriors had to survive on the barren island, fish, and fight off competitors
- In 1886, American explorers discovered basalt paintings inside houses and began destroying them
- In 1974, William Malloy led archaeological restoration of the site
- The cave entrances were designed as lava tubes for war defense, climate protection, and spiritual reasons
Site mentioned
Sources
The Birdman Motif of Easter Island - Bradshaw Foundationbradshawfoundation.com
The Birdman was the winner of a traditional Rapa Nui competition to collect the first sooty tern (manu tara) egg of the season from the islet of Motu Nui.
Tangata manu - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The Tangata manu was the winner of a traditional ritual competition on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to collect the first sooty tern (manu tara) egg of the ...
THE BIRDMAN COMPETITION: “The Hunger Games” of Rapa Nuimariabaias.com
They had to climb down an almost vertical cliff of about 300 meters. Then, they had to swim for almost two km from Rapa Nui to Motu Nui in ...
Rapa Nui's Birdman Battle - Globetrotting Bookloversglobetrottingbooklovers.com
The Birdman competition was held near the most important site on the island: the Rano Kau volcano, and consisted of climbing down the steep 300 meter rock face ...
Orongo - ceremonial stone village for birdman competitioneasterisland.travel
Competitors would climb more than 200 m down the cliff wall, swim out to the islet called Motu Nui, retrieve a newly put egg from the manutara bird, swim back ...
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