Ahu Akivi Historical Facts and Pictures

The statues of Ahu-Akivi  located in Easter island, Rapa Nui are some most distinct century-old attraction of Chile. Among other Moai statues, these seven of Ahu-Akivi are the prominent ones, that could be restored in 1960 by William Mulloy under Universidad De Chile and was 1^st discovered by Thor Heyerdahl.

Ahu Akivi

Ahu Akivi Pictures

The statues were oriented astronomically & bear the traits of the age old Native American practice and is the product of oral tradition & mystic belief of ancestral worship – built around 16^th century, before any of the Europeans set their foot there. The central platform was built by Rapa Nui people & then the statues were raised. The other platforms were believed to have been built later by a craftsman Miru.

Ahu Akivi Photos

All the seven statues are similar looking with some standard quaint features – broad nose, stern chin & prolonged face. Their head gear made up of lava ashes while the platforms are of lava stone blocks. The elevated statues are placed on the southern slope of Terevaka (volcanic cone mountain) of about 140 m high from sea level. There is the central platform of varied shape and some with fine masonry wall but mainly has a wing that unfolds in north or south direction. There are head gear of red lava (Pukao), the crematory concrete & the caves  (Ana te Pahu ) & Ahus at adjacent regions.

Ahu Akivi at Night

Ahu Akivi Images

The seven major statues have been raised on the central platform – each of which are of 16 feet height, 230 ft length & 18 tons by weight, & these restored ones are unique in their own way – unlike other Maoi statues of the island they are situated away from the coast & face towards the ocean. The most mysterious factor about them is that they face sunset during spring equinox & all turning back to sunrise during autumn equinox. Some popular legends go around the creation of these mysterious statues – that the seven statues represent seven navigators sent by the king or that they were raised to appease the sea.