Atua rakau (staff god)

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...

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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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