Visit
to a Polynesian Temple (Marae) - Raiatea
While on Raiatea, we visited the most important marae (temple) in French
Polynesia - Taputapuatea. We sat on benches under a large tree while our
local guide took us back to the 18th century. He explained in detail the
various parts of the marae and their significance. We then walked the
cleared, landscaped grounds and tried to understand the religious beliefs that
called for human and animal sacrifice.
The body of the person to be sacrificed was rubbed across each of these sacred rocks until blood was on each one.
Each warrior attending the meeting at the marae had his own stone to sit on. (I'm not sure how they sat so close together!) The sacrificial person would be drug across the standing rocks until each had blood on it. Everytime a person was sacrificed, a new stone was added to those standing in the marae.
Photos by: Linda Garrison
More - Article on R3 Cruise to Raiatea and French Polynesia
Tahiti and French Polynesia Photo Album
