世界之旅:Easter　Island（復活節島）

Easter Island is over 2,000 miles from the nearest population center, (Tahiti and Chile), making it one of the most isolated places on Earth. A triangle of volcanic rock in the South Pacific - it is best known for the giant stone monoliths, known as Moai, that dot the coastline. The early settlers called the island "Te Pito O Te Henua" (Navel of The World). Admiral Roggeveen, who came upon the island on Easter Day in 1722, named it Easter Island. Today, the land, people and language are all referred to locally as Rapa Nui.

復活節島全貌

玻里尼西亞文：Rapa Nui（大地方之意，Rapa　＝　Place），Te－Pito－o－te－Henua（世界之肚臍或中心之意）。
復活島， 位於南緯27°08°37°，西經109°26°10°，東距智利3500公里，西距Pitcairn島1750公里。面積166平方公里，人口2000人。行政中心爲Hanga Roa，1935年成爲國家公園，屬於智利的法爾巴拉索（Valparaisa）省。聯合國審定爲World Heritage Site。石像稱“Moai”，有600座，墳場平臺稱“Ahu”，高３～６公尺，最高者達11公尺，重50公噸，帽子重10公噸，多成羣矗立，最多者達15座，爲西元1000～1600年完成。土著稱此島爲「鳥人國（Land of the Bird Men）」，而石像如白種人面孔，島上無水源、無樹，用黑曜石、火山玻璃和凝灰岩雕刻而成的石像，是否與外星人（Ｅ.Ｔ.，ExtraTerrestrial）有關？

海邊石雕像

There has been much controversy and confusion concerning the origins of the Easter Islanders. Thor Heyerdahl proposed that the people who built the statues were of Peruvian descent, due to a similarity between Rapa Nui and Incan stonework. Some have suggested that Easter Island is the remnant of a lost continent, or the result of an extra-terrestrial influence . Archaeological evidence, however, indicates discovery of the island by Polynesians at about 400 AD - led, according to legend, by Hotu Matua. Upon their arrival, an impressive and enigmatic culture began to develop. In addition to the statues, the islanders possessed the Rongorongo script; the only written language in Oceania. The island is also home to many petroglyphs (rock carvings), as well as traditional wood carvings, tapa (barkcloth) crafts, tattooing, string figures, dance and music.

巨型石雕像

據說這些雕像原來都是背海而立，位於圓形的平臺上，但由於年代久遠，石像大部分已東倒西歪，散落於荒原之中了，有的還有明顯被破壞的痕跡。據考證，這些雕像都是本地古代人制作的，但最令人難以理解的是，島上的人們爲什麼要雕刻這些巨型石像？史學家們一直在爭論不休，有人認爲是與墓葬有關，因爲曾經在石像下面的神龕裏發現過人的屍骨；還有人認爲是與當地人的祭祀活動有關，放置石像的平臺就是祭祀的聖臺。另外，古代人們是如何利用簡單的工具將這樣巨大而笨重的石像搬運的呢？島上的傳說聲稱它們是“自己走來的”，但經研究，由於雕像重心很低，所以十幾個人就可以把它舉起並迅速移動。這種巨大的石雕像在其他島上也有發現，但在復活節島上最多。作爲人類最初的藝術活動，這些雕像進一步證明了藝術與生產和對自然的神祕崇拜有着十分密切的關係，這是世界各民族史前文化的共同特徵。
戴帽人像石雕

Easter Island today, remains one of the most unique places you will ever encounter; an open air museum showcasing a fascinating, but unfortunately lost culture. The Rapanui are among the friendliest people you will ever meet, and the landscape is truly amazing - with its volcanic craters, lava formations, beaches, brilliant blue water, and archaeological sites .


現在的復活島，然仍是最獨特的風景之一，公開博物館裏陳列的東西是神奇的但是不幸的是卻至今還是一個謎。在島上你可以遇到友善的Rapanui人以及令人驚歎的奇景---火山口、熔岩、海灘、耀眼的藍色海水以及考古遺址。