Rapa Nui oral tradition holds that moai represent ancestors and serve as conduits for mana, the spiritual power connecting ancestors, the living and their communities. Polynesian mana is unrelated to biblical manna: manna is a Hebrew term for the miraculous food associated with the Ark of the Covenant. Most moai were carved from relatively soft volcanic tuff at the Rano Raraku quarry; only 13 basalt moai are known, with trachyte used rarely and red scoria chiefly for pukao.
Rapa Nui tradition links moai to ancestors and their mana
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Key facts
- In Rapa Nui oral tradition, moai represent deified ancestors and hold or channel their mana.
- Mana is spiritual power within Rapa Nui belief; it is not an empirically established physical energy source.
- Polynesian mana is unrelated to biblical manna. Manna is a Hebrew term for the miraculous food associated with the Ark of the Covenant.
- Most moai were carved from volcanic tuff; 13 basalt moai are known, while trachyte and red scoria were also used.
- Freshly quarried volcanic tuff is softer and easier to carve than basalt.
- The claim that all 13 basalt moai were made first in a simple switch to tuff is not established by the cited evidence.
Sources
earthstoriez.com
Linked in video description
Mana Tupuna: Honoring the Ancestors Abroad - Project MUSEmuse.jhu.edu
by P Kelly · 2020 · Cited by 1 — The Mana Tupuna Project reimagines the connection between contemporary Rapanui people and the carvings of their ancestors.
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