Epic Statuary Via Google Earth Essay

Total Length: 943 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 1

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This is another large sculptural representation of a religious figure, but it is not nearly as accessible. Though still visited by intrepid tourists, this statue is perched precariously on the top of a mountain, arms impossibly outstretched and utterly dominating the view in that direction. The Catholic religion that mny Brazilians are members of and that was the cause of the statue being erected takes a much different view of religion than the Buddhists, and this is reflect in their statue. O Cristo Redentor is meant to be awe inspiring, dominating, and perhaps even a little intimidating. The Buddha, on the other hand, smiles in welcome to his visitors, and it is easy to walk right up to (or at least underneath) the statue. Here, it requires an arduous and even dangerous climb; a willingness to suffer and sacrifice if one wants to be close to the symbol of their Lord.

The third set of coordinates takes us to statues that depart wildly from the previous two, definitely in the style of their execution and probably in their intended purpose, as well. The statues of Easter Island are fairly well know, but the people of Easter Island still remain highly enigmatic, and are unique among the Polynesian cultures. The statues, large-headed male figures kneeling on the ground, vary in size but are almost all carved from the same source of volcanic rock and ash, the dormant volcano at the center of the island.
The statues were built in a very short period of time, before the civilization was known ti European explorers, and so little has been recorded regarding their possible purpose. Like the Catholics of Brazil and the Buddhists of Hong Kong, the statues were likely religious and a mark of the people's belief in strength through their godly forces, but there is no specific myth among the people of the island that supports the creation of the statues explicitly. There is also no explanation for why most of the statues were abandoned at the quarry or at random places throughout the island.

the specific reason behind the carving of the Easter Island statues might never be known. But it is clear that there is a common human drive to create, and to create big representations of the figures we most revere. Whether they protect us, heal us, watch over us, or all of these, human beings seem to derive a sense of power and of comfort from being able to shape materials into our own image. This trait is common to all humans of every culture, even one as isolated and unique as that which evolved on Easter Island. Whether these statues are gods, protective beings, or proof of contact with other civilizations doesn't matter nearly as much as the fact that they are proof….....

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"Epic Statuary Via Google Earth" (2009, September 21) Retrieved July 10, 2025, from
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