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Atua rakau (staff god)

Atua rakau (staff god)
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About this item

Title
Atua rakau (staff god)
Content partner
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Collection
Te Papa Collections Online
Description

Rarotongan staff gods consisted of a long wooden staff with an elaborately carved top and a lesser amount of carving at the base. The central shaft was left uncarved and was swathed in a large bundle of tapa. In the 19th century, Europeanmissionaries reported seeing 'idols' of this kind up to 6 metres long, although the largest surviving intact examples are only about one-third that length. One exceptionally small staff god, complete with tapa wrapping , is only 74 centimetres long. This inco...

Format
Image
Date created
circa 1800
URL
https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/154956
Related subjects
wood / staffs / figures / religious objects / god sticks / Rarotonga / William Ockleford Oldman / Cook Islands Māori

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