RANDY OLSON_MM8059_1493993.JPG
A petroglyph with a birdman motif that is half man and half bird and connected to cult events at the sacred site Orango.
The purpose of the Birdman competition was to obtain the first egg of the season from an offshore islet, Motu Nui. Contestants descended the sheer cliffs from Orongo and swam to Motu Nui where they awaited the coming of the birds. The first to procure an egg became the winner. He presented it to his sponsor who then was declared Birdman for that year, an important status position.
- Copyright
- RANDY OLSON
- Image Size
- 3206x4809 / 11.9MB
- Keywords
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ancient civilization, antiquities, antiquities and artifacts, architecture and art, artifacts, carvings, coastlines, color image, distant, easter island, famous place, high angle views, high angle views, illuminated, indigenous culture, international landmark, lights, lights and lighting, mystery, natural rock carvings, night, night views, no people, oceanic architecture and art, outdoors, pacific islands, pacific ocean, past, petroglyphs, photography, polynesia, polynesian antiquities and artifacts, polynesian architecture and art, polynesian culture, rapa nui, rock, sculpture, travel destinations, unesco world heritage sites, volcanic rock, water
- Contained in galleries
- Easter Island_National Geographic magazine 7/2012
