Posts tagged ‘walking statues’
THE WALKING STATUES OF EASTER ISLAND
CONTINUED
Now, let’s get the big guy to walk.
The walking stature was demonstrated in the book Easter Island Easter Island (*).
A statue was constructed out of concrete, 15 feet long. Not as big as many of the statues on the island but served the purpose to demonstrate the process.
Two ropes were attached one to the head and one to the base. With seventeen people on each rope, the rope on the head pulled the statue slightly forward, then the rope attached to the base pulled the entire statue forward. With practice the statue was made to waddle and walk forward.
The process was later tried on an actual statue nine feet tall and weighing 4 or 5 tons. With three men to tilt and five to pull forward, the statue ‘walked’.
Thus, the legend of the walking statues of Easter Island has some validity, but it was not a supernatural event.
(*) Paul Bahn and John Flenley, Easter Island Easter Island, 1992, Thames and Hudson, pages 141, 142.
THE WALKING STATUES OF EASTER ISLAND
I have always been intrigued by the culture of the remote Easter Island. Especially by the huge, magnificent statues associated with the island.
Legend has it that they walked to the sites where they now stand. A supernatural occurrence to be sure.
WHICH IS TRUE, to some extent.
Now, before they can walk they must stand.
I have seen them stand, going from prone to erect. But it was not a miracle. The statue went from lying on its back to standing up with the use of rocks (*). While lying on its back, using levers rocks were placed beneath the statue and the ground until the statue was lying on an inclined plane. Once it was raised to a significant height, ropes were used to finish the process.
*Paul Bahn and John Flenley, Easter Island Easter Island, 1992, Thames and Hudson, pages 158, 159.
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