CA 9: The Pacific

ahu'ula, or "red garments." Across Polynesia the color red was associated with both gods and chiefs.

yellow feathers became equally valuable, due to their scarcity.

For ceremonies and battle

216. Staff god

(essay, images, additional resources)

Cook Islands - settled around the period 800-1000 C.E.. Captain Cook made the first official European sighting of the islands in 1773, but spent little time in the area during his voyages.

"god sticks" varied in size from about 73 cm to nearly four metres, like this rare example. It is made of ironwood wrapped with lengths of barkcloth. The upper part of the staff consists of a carved head above smaller carved figures. The lower end is a carved phallus.

FUNCTION: Little known The ethnologist Roger Duff speculated that they represent Tangaroa the creator god, but without evidence. What is clear is that in their materials they combine the results of the skilled labor of men and women. They also have an explicit sexual aspect, thus embodying male and female productive and reproductive qualities.*

MALE wooden core, made by male carvers, has a large head at one end and originally terminated in a phallus.

FEMALE other figures facing outwards could depict women in childbirth. The barkcloth, made by women, not only protects the ancestral power ('mana) of the deity, but contains it within the different layers.