Orongo hosted Rapa Nui's Tangata Manu (Birdman) competition: clan competitors descended roughly 300 m to Motu Nui, swam there and raced to retrieve the season's first sooty tern egg. A champion from the winning team was chosen as the island's Birdman ruler for a year, while teams could wait up to about 30 days. 🏔️
Orongo: ceremonial site of Rapa Nui's Birdman competition
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Site mentioned
Key facts
- Orongo is the ceremonial village where Rapa Nui's Tangata Manu (Birdman) competition was held.
- Representatives of Rapa Nui clans descended more than 200 m, roughly 300 m at the main cliff, swam to Motu Nui and raced to retrieve the season's first sooty tern egg.
- A champion chosen from the winning team became the Tangata Manu and held the island's Birdman leadership for one year; the winner's chieftain did not simply become king.
- Competitors could remain on Motu Nui for up to about 30 days while waiting for the first egg to be laid.
- They sheltered in caves, fished and rivaled other teams, although accounts do not establish routine combat between competitors.
- Late-19th-century expeditions recorded birdman paintings and carvings at Orongo and removed pieces for collection, causing loss and damage.
- William J. Mulloy, a University of Iowa archaeologist, led excavations and restoration work at Orongo beginning in 1974.
- Orongo's houses were integrated with natural rock caves and lava cavities; low entrances offered weather and defensive protection, while the caves also had ritual and burial uses.
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 ...
Tangata Manu, the Easter Island birdman cultimaginarapanui.com
Learn about the incredible competition that took place at Orongo to choose the Tangata Manu or Easter Island birdman who would rule the island during one year.
Orongo - ceremonial stone village for birdman competitioneasterisland.travel
The anual "birdman" competitions took place here in which a representative from each of the tribes fought. Competitors would climb more than 200 m down the ...
Orongo- Ceremonial Village of the Birdman Culttravelyesplease.com
Orongo is a small, scenic village of stone houses most known for being the site of Easter Island's famous Birdman competition.
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