Ahu Nau Nau
by Heidi Fickinger
Title
Ahu Nau Nau
Artist
Heidi Fickinger
Medium
Photograph - Photographic Print
Description
The Ahu Nau Nau is a ceremonial center located near Anakena, a beautiful white sand beach, Oral tradition of Rapa Nui tells that Anakena is where the original Polynesian explorers landed on Rapa Nui. It where the first king of the island, the Ariki Hotu Matu’a, landed with his people and established the first settlement that originated to the Rapa Nui culture. The Ahu Nau Nau is historically known as Ahu Ature Hoa, and according to tradition, Vakai, the wife of Hotu Matu’a, would be buried here. It seems that the name by which it is denominated at the moment, could be associated to the Naunau or nau opata, a shrub now extinct of the sandalwood family. This plant, whose aromatic wood was formerly used to make a perfume, also gave a nutritious fruit in the shape of a nut. According to legend, the first ariki Hotu Matu’a and his followers would have brought these nuts from their homeland to feed during the first months on the island.
Featured in the following FAA Groups:
* Arts Fantastic World
* The Image Dump
* Contemporary
* Black and White Photography
* Travel Art
Uploaded
March 19th, 2018
Embed
Share
