What Are the Easter Island Statues Called
The Easter Island statues are known as moai. They are large stone figures carved by the Rapa Nui people, mostly between the 13th and 16th centuries. Most moai were carved from volcanic tuff at Rano Raraku.
What Do the Easter Island Statues Represent
Moai represent ancestral chiefs and important leaders. Each statue was believed to hold spiritual power, or mana, and to protect the community. They faced inland to watch over villages and sacred sites.
Why Were the Easter Island Statues Built
The statues were built to honor ancestors and reinforce social status. Placing moai on stone platforms called ahu connected living families with their lineage. According to research, the moai were central to Rapa Nui religion and identity. Learn more about Easter Island statues at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moai
