Easter Island Statues

The Easter Island and its Statues, Isle de Pascua

Easter Island Statue Moai with replica eyes at Ahu Ko Te Riku in Hanga Roa

Weird, mysterious and isolated

There are many places on earth with some sort of fascinations, but Easter Island is not just fascinating but it is undoubtedly the most intriguing place in the World. This little island dotted with gigantic and weird looking human statues; is in the Oceania (the groups of islands around Australia) in the South Pacific Ocean. The Easter Island is the most isolated place with human inhabitation as the nearest inhabited places are (Tahiti or Chile) at least two thousand miles away!

Rapa Nui and Rapanui

From where did these inhabitants come why did they built so many gigantic statues (these statues are known as Moais), how did those people bring these stones to this remote island, what technology they used for the transportation? More over why have they toiled to make such gigantic statues? These are questions that intrigue visitors as well as those are interested archaeology. In 1722 one sailor by name Admiral Reggeveen landed on this island that was an Easter day; hence he named that island Easter Island. The local people call this island Rapa Nui and (Isle de Pascua in Portuguese). Rapanui has become a common word for everything related to this island, its language as well as its natives.

Special territory

Easter Island Statues Ahu Akivi, one of the few inland Ahu with the only moai facing the ocean

The capital of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is Hanga Roa and this island is a special territory under Chile. The islanders in general are not concerned about Chile’s claim and go on living as per their customs and preserving there own identity. Spanish and Repanui are the official languages. Its population (about 3000) consists entirely of Rapanui and Chilean. Easter Island is a World Heritage Site and most of the island is covered and protected as the Repanui National Park.

Moais (the statues)

Easter Island Statues

Had there been no moais; the Easter Island would have remained as one among the thousands of remote islands in the Pacific Ocean and no one would have wasted time thinking about it. There are about 887 of them as per the inventories. These statues are not identical; they vary in their size and shape. These statues are made of carving hard stone; their heads are overly large (about three fifth of the total size). Moais are images of human torso with heads (some of them are dug deep in sand and only heads are visible). These moais are believed to be images of the ancestors (probable deified) of the islanders; may be a sign of ancestor worship).

Coral eye and scoria pupil

As per Sonia Haoa and archaeologist these statues were made with eye sockets capable to hold white corals as eyes with scoria (a volcanic stone with shining black color) as its pupil, she has demonstrated the statement by collecting the fragments of corals and scoria retrieved around the statues and reconstructing it to its original shapes.

The tallest and he heaviest

Easter Island Statues

The tallest moai (known as Paro) is 10 meters (33 feet) in height and weigh 75 tons, where as the heaviest is 86 tons in weight; it is placed on a platform by name Ahu Tongariki. There is one unfinished moai; which if completed would have been the tallest and the heaviest (21 meter in height and 240 tons in weight!) Most of the moais are found in Ranu Roraku the moai quarry; recently hundreds of them have been transported to set them on the ahus (the platform for placing moais). The moais were originally placed on ahus with their back facing the sea.

A baby boom and after !

The Easter Island is often quoted as an example of the consequences of uncontrolled population explosion. This island was initially discovered and inhabited by Polynesians. In the initial times settlers were few in number and life was comfortable. Their number increased rapidly and all the available land had to be converted in to farmlands. When human beings multiplied like rats land became insufficient to feed the increasing numbers. This ‘population explosion’ led to starvation and wide spread riots. Easter Island’s geographical isolation made migration to less populated places impossible.

Scapegoats of a tragedy !

People who were dying of hunger turned to cannibalism; they started killing and eating their neighbors! Their frustration later turned against the moais which were standing there as if they were mere spectators of these horrible scenes. The moais were dragged by the violent mob and got dumped in to a waste land. These statues were there for centuries until recently and they were reinstalled in proper places by the joint initiative of UNESCO and the government.

A nostalgic past

In 1950 Heyer Dahl the famous Norwegian explorer (his work the ‘Kon tiki Expedition’ was a classic) happened to visit made the existence such an isolated island popular, this aroused curiosity among sailors. His theory about the original inhabitants has been proved wrong and it has been established that the people were of Polynesian stocks. As per the latest opinions it must be a set of less than 100 people probably lost their way on the sea and happened to land and stay here. The lush forests with small animals, flightless birds, and rich fish of the sea shore were more than what they bargained for!

Life as a dream!

If what the archaeologists say are true this island’ original culture was enough create jealousy among the modern men, the isolation to which these people were subjected worked in forming an exclusive lifestyle for its inhabitants. Enough food and leisure aroused in them hidden creative talents; for which they toiled and suffered to bring huge stones from nearby sea-rocks, cut huge trees barked them for artworks every thing they could lay hands on; stones, wood, barks of trees, their own body skin, virtually every where they could work turned out to be their canvass. Dance and music was their favorite time pass.

Survived to tell their story

Life for them was devotion and they went on giving birth to beautiful art works from birth to death! They made it every where; they tattooed their own body with fine arts. But alas bark of wood, body skin every thing perished by the passing of time but these hard stones out of which they made these immortal statues alone survived the test of time! They survived the time of cannibalism; and stand tall declaring the greatness of their creators!

How to get there ?

Easter Island Map

There are regular flights from Santiago to Mataveri airport, with less than one thousand dollars one can reach there and fly back in style. Rapa Nui people who operate small hotels come and invite tourists for stay and sight seeing, these people are one of the friendliest in the world and their words can be trusted. The advantage is not only in saving money it is a chance to understand the local life and people.

Brilliant landscapes and Tapati

The natives are a jolly lot and their most important festival is the Tapati Festival which is celebrated during January and February. The festival of 2008 is nearing and a visit during this time is real joy! Easter Island’s landscapes are really amazing with volcanic craters, clean beaches, and famous archeological sites. Pay a visit to the remotest inhabited land in the world and experience the hospitality of a far away people, see the moais as much as you can all for just one thousand bucks!

Timbuktu

Timbuktu Mali Africa

Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu

Center of a significant written culture of Africa


Africa is often dubbed as a dark continent; but those who heard of Timbuktu can never call it so. Timbuktu; the ‘center of significant written culture of Africa’ is -located in Tombouctau District, Mali- was a torch spreading light all around; it was at a time when rest of the world groped amidst the gloom that encircled. Eight centuries back the district of Tombouctau was home to leading universities like Sankore and the Djinguereber and Sidi Yahya. They were the centers of excellence not only in theological disciplines but scientific and historic wisdom as well. These ancient universities did a great thing they kept written records of what was taught, these records prevail to tell all.


A golden period

Sankore Madrasah in Timbuktu

During the good times this city had a population 100,000 people but the pupils of these institutions alone were about 25,000; that means it catered the educational needs of pupils belonging to a large portion of the surrounding area. These buildings made out of clay in a typical Timbuktu style are standing tall heralding their past prominence; they are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Three centuries from the 13th to the 15th was for Timbuktu its golden period when these three centers along with numerous madrasas shone like stars spreading world-class knowledge to its pupils these ancient wisdom in the form of manuscripts if not existed; no one would have believed that such an impoverished nation like Mali was home them.


No Christians please; we are traders


Mali’s population mainly consists of Songhay, Tuarog, Fulani and Mande people and numerous nomadic tribes. The Tombouctau region where the Timbuktu sites are located is about 15 km north of River Niger; it is in the northern most part of Mali –a land locked and one of the most backward nations in the African Continent. Being located in the Sub-Saharan area these places were hard to access. The traders kept this place secret from the Europeans as they knew that the Europeans will outsmart them in trade. In the attempt to explore the location many non-Muslims traders and their informants got killed.


An entrepot


Tombouctau is located in the meeting point of the trans-Saharan trade routes and flourishing trade made this region rich. Tombouctau was an entrepot (a place where merchandise can be imported and exported without restriction, an ancient system for the present duty-free ports). The ban was only for non-Muslims and commodities of all sorts were welcome! Timbuktu even catered the needs of Europe by supplying rock salt from Taoudenni (an oasis known for its salt deposits) although the trade was not direct.


‘From here to Timbuktu’

Map of Timbuktu

Timbuktu even engaged in indirect trade with far away countries of Europe, for Europeans Timbuktu was a weird place; a symbol of all that were exotic and distant and something they have never seen, the phrase ‘from here to Timbuktu’ also means a place as far as one can imagine. Though Timbuktu was the creation of the Tuaregs (a tribe who live in the surrounding areas); it was the merchants and brisk trade that made the town rich; various kingdoms were born and flourished in the soil of Timbuktu; like the Ghana, Mali and Songhay empires.

A different style


The structure made of clay in typical style; that stands as Timbuktu University building was built on 1581; which was built on the older and the original structure which was built about two centuries back. In curriculum as well as method of teaching adopted here was entirely different from what existed in other parts of the world. There is much for the expensive modern universities can emulate from Sankore of Sidi Yahya to cut costs and make education more student friendly. It is surprising to see that Ancient Universities like Nalanda and Taxila had many similarities in their functioning with that of Sankore.


Collection of schools

Timbuktu, Mali, Africa

These great universities like Sankore, Sidi Yahya, Djinguereyber etc were in fact collections of small institutions; each managed by single faculty known as the Imam. Students were associated only with that single master. The classes were held in the open or in mosque compounds. The main theme was teaching of Qur’an but classes on logics, astronomy, history etc were also held. Ahmed Baba –a prominent historian was one of the most celebrated faculties of the university, his name is referred in classic works like Tarikh- es Sudan etc.


The real treasure!


The scholars had to write their own books based on their curriculum, socio-economic issues and all that they were taught. It is this system that has generated the numerous manuscripts (written in Arabic or Fulani) which later turned out to be very valuable documents for the historians to understand the progress the people have achieved in this part of the land. The real treasure of this time is not just the 15th century complex but the 100,000 plus manuscripts (written in Arabic or Fulani) intended for didactic (moral teaching) purpose. These manuscripts were written in various times some of them were even older than Islam itself. When the older ones mainly dealt with theological subjects; comparatively recent ones were containing history, law, science and music.


In private hands


These manuscripts had been kept by the rich families of the surrounding areas as their family treasure and most of them were being lost for lack of proper preservation. It is estimated that there are between 300,000 and 700,000 such manuscripts existing in various houses; as the possession is secret no one is able to assess exact number. At present the Ahmed Baba institute (Cedrab) founded in 1970 by the Government of Mali in collaboration with UNESCO has acquired some of them for preservation and digitalization.


Like gold; like salt; like wisdom


These manuscripts that cover every aspects of human life is properly scrutinized can yield a lot of information about the culture, society, history and human relations and the depth of their knowledge. There is an old saying that stated the importance of Timbuktu “Salt comes from north, gold from south and wisdom from Timbuktu”. If salt is for health, and gold for wealth, wisdom was for the very existence of culture without which man is beast.


The African Ink-Road


Timbuktu had nothing but wisdom as its own to exchange; and as the store-house of wisdom (being home to Sankore etc; it had no dearth for it. In exchange of the commodities received Timbuktu offered its wisdom in abundance. These treasures of wisdom in the form of manuscripts traveled all through the routs and reached every where the commodities reached; thereby forming the African Ink-Road that stretches between the West Africa to the east and the south. If ancient Asia had a ‘Silk-route’ Africa had a far valuable ‘Ink-Road’. More than sixty libraries are there on this ink-road all richly endowed with these invaluable manuscripts.


The stunning abundance!


Sankore, Djinguereyber, Sidi Yahya all combined gave birth to manuscripts that is so abundant that no one is sure how much of them exist and how much have perished; most of them are secret holdings of the surrounding families. There are about 60 to 80 libraries dotted here and there along the Ink-Road like the Mamma Haidara library, Fundo Kati library (which has a collection of about 3000 manuscripts of the Andolusian origin. At present UNESCO is working in liaison with these libraries to get these manuscripts preseved.


The decline

A typical street scene at Timbuktu, Mali, with omnipresent bread-baking ovens

The Portuguese and other European traders landed in West Africa changing its entire scenario –this region was so far kept away from the Europeans- they devised alternative trade routes thereby diminishing the potential of the existing routes. With the fall of the trade routes the city lost its prominence as a trading center. The attack made by Morisco (Moriscos are Muslims of Spain who were forcible converted to Christianity, the word means Moor-like) mercenaries hastened its fall.


Present Timbuktu


Timbuktu is a UNESCO approved World Heritage Site since 1988 and on that merit it has an international air-port and some amount of tourists visit its sites. This town has a population above 30,000 and headquarters to the local Governor. Whatever its status as a heritage site the people of this town live in utter penury and water scarcity; the Sahara Desert keep on advancing to swallow this little town. UNESCO placed this site in the ‘endangered sites list’ as it was on the verge of getting buried by the desert sand, after necessary works done in 2005 it has been taken out of the endangered list.

Alhambra

Alhambra, Granada Spain- The Red Palace

Alhambra Granada Spain

Something odd in Spain!

Alhambra (means ‘the red’ in Arabic) is in Granada in Southern Spain, the name may make one to think that it may be located in Turkey or Saudi Arabia. The Alhambra Palace Complex has passed through turbulent times of the Europe and there are many historical events behind its construction, reconstruction, additions and finally to its change in to a museum of exquisite Islamic arts and architecture. In the middle age (between the 1^st and 10^th centuries) Spain and its surrounding areas were in turmoil as the Semitic Religions playing different games (most of them bloody) for adding maximum numbers to their respective groups as well as doing everything for the elimination of the others.

On the edge of the sword!

Alhambra from the "Mirador de San Nicolás" in the Albaycin of Granada.

Romans; that called the shots during the reign of Augustus Caesar colonized Spain along with neighboring regions and formed ‘Hispania’. Visigoths from the Germanic regions were there with Christianity. Muslims from Africa rose as a major power after the weakening of the Roman Empire. Paganism of Rome was crumbling before the new wave of Semitic Religions. Christianity of Visigoths and Islam from Arabs all struggled for supremacy; in between them were some pockets of Jews finding it hard to survive. Religious persecutions became the order of the day, human blood flowed like river. Conversions and re-conversions at the edge of the sword prevailed. By 5^th AD major parts of Spain fell in to the hands of Muslims and that spell lasted up to the 10^th Century AD until the return of ‘reinforced’ Christianity. The Alhambra is a product of this period.

And quietly flows the Darro!

The River Darro which flows beside the Alhambra was a case point, its initial name was Aurus (meaning gold as its sand contained traces of gold and small-scale gold extractions were taking place there), when Arabs took over the land they ‘converted’ the river and named it as ‘Hadarrb’, lately Christians took over the reign and re-Christened the ‘Muslim’ river in to a Christian river and named it ‘Dauro’. This river is presently known as ‘Darro’. If the fate of and ‘innocent’ river is this what would be that of historical monuments. The changes of rulers had corresponding changes in the Alhambra, many additions, many desecrations and many modifications.

The original Qal’at al Hambra

The Muslim rulers known as the Moors engaged in massive conversion of Christians and Pagans in to Islam; these new converts to Islam were known as Muladis; the Muladis grew in strength and power and finally drove out the Moors who were forced to take shelter in the original Qal’at al Hambra (the red fort) they used it as residence as well as court. At that time Alhambra was a medium sized building. Enemies easily entered in the fort and destroyed it. This building lied there in the state of ruins; ignored by all for centuries.

Second and the third births

The Court of the Lions, a unique remain of islamic animal statues.

Samuel Ibn Naghrallah Vizier (top official under Muslim rulers) to King Badis of the Zirid dynasty rebuilt it with red-clay; which also got eventually destroyed. It was Nasser of the Nasrid Dynasty who finally built the structure that stands intact today. The Nasrid Dynasty was established by Ibn Nasser found asylum in Granada running away to avoid persecution from King Ferdinand in early 13^th century.

A palatine city

The architecture adopted by Nasrid was different from the Umayyad style that existed here before (The Cordova Mosque is a typical Umayyad Style structure), Nasrid got the entire complex transformed in to a palatine city with six palaces (four of them royal residences), an advanced irrigation system known as acequias (al saqiya in Arabic for community water supply), numerous bath-houses and all paraphernalia required for a royal city.

Not an inch to spare

Fountains and flowing water are a common feature around the Alhambra

Not even an inch is spared from artworks, arches were made only for aesthetics, walls covered with expensive and enchanting ceramics and ornate plasters, coverings made of wooden frames carved so beautifully. As in the case of typical Muslim palaces walls are adorned of calligraphy depicting poems. ‘Zawi ben Ziri’ (founder Nasrid dynasty), Allah Aqbar (meaning god is the victor), etc. The decorative elements frequently used are inter lacing vegetative forms with nets of rhombuses (net-shaped carvings known as ‘jallies) as human figures are taboo, Now let us see some of the individual items

The Column

The Alhambra is creditable with unique styling the column on which it is built is a cylindrical shaft with molded concave base and decorative rings at the top. Its capital is divided in to two; the first one is cylindrical it has a prism with round base with ornate carvings.

The Hall of ‘Abencerraejes’ is decorated with arches and marble floors, it is said that the knight of Abancerrjes was beheaded at this hall and hence the name. There are markings on the floor said to be the blood stain of the knight. No one is sure which knight was beheaded and who ordered for it.

Hall of Two Sisters has the name denoting two marble stones placed in it. It was built by Mohammed 5 and includes bed chambers, gardens, emperor’s chamber and porticos connecting them together.

Comares Palace; the official residence of the king, has several rooms surrounded by Court of Myrtles. All rooms have galleries with porticos, this complex include Hall of the Boat and the Hall of Ambassadors. Its walls are decorated with holy-verses.

Court of the Myrtles; one of the most beautiful structures of the complex made of pure white marble, with a pond that reflects the building it stands in contrast to the lush green myrtle bushes and hence its name (this building has got different names in different times).

Mexuar including tower and a gallery is believed to be built by Nasrid but it had undergone several modifications and its original shape has become hard to guess. It is so named as the architect Michuka lived in it during the construction.

The Oratory; located behind the Mexaur has arches and walls with inscriptions and verses from Qur’an. This hall suffered extensive damages in an explosion and renovated in 1917.

Gilded Room (Cuarto Dorado); it is part of the Comares Palace and got its name for its painted Mudejar style and coffered ceiling. It has highly decorated walls and is connected to the Mexaur with a little arch. Patio of the Gilded room was renovated in 1943 and fountain reinstalled as per the exact original design.

Bath complex

The bath complex is comprised of many chambers typical to Arabic style big bath tub alone are provided and no swimming pool. There is provision for cold, hot as well as steam baths. The first to come is the ‘frigiderium’ with large cold water basin, ‘tepidarium’ (provided at the central hall) with warm water and finally a ‘caldarium’ for steam bath. Inside the hall there is a copper boiler in which water is boiled and piped to the required basin by underground pipes. Remnants of these pipes are still visible.

The Royal bath; What a royal bath!

The Royal Bath; is built at the east of the Comares Palace, with a fountain in the middle surrounded by columns. The Hall of Beds was the place to undress before bath with an open side for the emperor to watch. The lady who catches his attention had gets an apple thrown at her as a mark of her approval. With the apple she gets the privilege to spend that night with the emperor. Such a throw with emperor’s apple was rare chance to that lady as the harem is filled with numerous ‘wives’ and only lucky ones get a chance to spend one night with the emperor!

Evolution of styles

A room of the palace and a view of the Court of the Lions.

If the Darro River had to carry many names with change of rule; the shape of the palace also has undergone changes in accordance with the change of the rulers. First names were Arabic then came Spanish names. Some of the names mentioned above are just English translations of the Spanish names. The Islamic artists living cut off from the mainstream Islamic arts slowly evolved in to a separate entity by name ‘the Andalusian’ artists. Most of the Islamic traits got transformed and a new style specific to the region of Andalusia which remains as the uniqueness of Alhambra structures.

The Christian era

By the beginning of the 15^th century whole scenario changed Granada became the seat of the Christian Arch Bishop! The Moors were expelled and those Muslims who stuck to Islam fled to Africa. Charles V established a university in Granada and a court in Alhambra. The renaissance and the Baroque deleted the Islamic remnants from the landscape. There were tremendous activities of construction, churches were made in fashionable designs, facades, canvasses, sculptures all were started dotting the entire city-scape.

French occupation and after

The French occupation was not as sweet and almost all the original structures were destroyed, nothing came up to replace what was lost. Even the expulsion of the French could not usher the old charm of the city as revolutions and revolts were regular. Only by the end of the 19^th century a building boom that followed could add something to make the city’s charm. At present Granada remains as a modern city with sparkling gems of the yesteryears with well restored monuments. Its main dependence is on the students who flock to the 450 years old University as a center of excellence.

Acropolis

Acropolis, Athens

Acropolis at Athens image courtsey: fulbright.org

The most invaluable monuments of the Western World

The word ‘Acropolis simply means high city, ancient settlements were generally made on the top of hills due to security concerns and Acropolis was no exception. In that sense there are many acropoleis in the world. Rome, Jerusalem, Athens, Thebes, Corinth etc all have acropoleis, but the word if plainly used; means the Acropolis of Athens; because it is that much associated to decisive historical events that shaped the destiny of Europe. The Acropolis complex was the epicenter of social, cultural and religious activities of a bygone era 3,000 years back is a flat topped hill in the center of the city of Athens that houses several monuments including the Parthenon the temple of Athena -the Greek Goddess and other rare and valuable monuments of the history of Greece.

Cecropia!

Tthe Erechtheum at the Acropolis at Athens

The Acropolis is also known as Cecropia after the legendary King Cecrops -with a man’s head and a snake’s body - who is believed to have established the Athenian Empire. There are evidences that these people who lived here from 10^th century BC knew the techniques of making bronze. Pottery pieces retrieved from this place prove that this hill was inhabited from the late Stone Age. There are remnants of a 13^th century BC fortification made of cyclopean wall (made of lime-stone without using mortar) built around the complex. It was the establishment of the cult of Athena Polias in the 8^th century BC that made this place the status of a pilgrim spot for the Greeks. A temple of Athena Polias is located in the north eastern side of the hill.

Cecrops a mythical king of Athens

Artemis; the fem-fatale!

Even though Greek folklores say that the Athenian Empire was established by Cecrops; the first human king who ruled the empire was Actaeus of Allica. (There is one Actaeus who while on hunting in the woods happened to watch Goddess Artemis (daughter of Zeus and sister of Apollo, she also used to go on hunting spree) taking bath in a stream and was discovered by the Goddess. The enraged Artemis cursed Actaeus and he became a stag and got killed by his own hunts).

Athena her beauty was not just skin deep

Athena

Athena the daughter of Zeus was the sum total of all a man expected from womanhood. And there is seldom any woman in history; a woman remained in the fantasies of a community for so many generations. She was the protectress of Acropolis and her temple (made in 5^th century BC; still remains as the best of the monuments of this complex. Athena Parthenon (Athena the virgin) was to the Greeks far more than being a goddess. She was goddess of wisdom, art of weaving (as Athena Ergane), she was goddess to battle (Athena Promachos) and victory (Athena Nike) education and was everything a person wished to attain.

Several Gods; Several Portfolios

Poseidon, Aries, Artemis, Hephaestus, Apollo, Hermes, Aphrodite, Herse, Festia, Demeter were her brothers; all with their own duties as Olympians (the twelve gods who live on the Olympus Mountain).

Xerxes and his revenge!

The Propylaea at Acropolis at Athens

The Acropolis had the fortune of evading the mass destruction several times but once. It was Xerxes the son of Darius a Persian king who captured Athens (in 480 BC) and entered Acropolis; he ‘succeeded’ in burning it in to ashes before being driven out by the combined army of Greeks. For Xerxes it was a sweet revenge for the defeat Persians suffered in Marathon. In the dark ages that followed numerous monuments were ruthlessly destroyed by the tribals. The remnants of these destroyed structures were dumped in a pit for new constructions, archaeologists recovered numerous materials from this site, these debris turned out to be a gold mine for them! These are known as the Persian debris.

Too good to resist!

The Acropolis has lured surrounding tribes and numerous wars were fought for its acquisition. The Kylonians conquered and took control of it during the Kylonian revolt. Peristratus conquered it twice and took it over; but he only played a creative role by adding structures to it. Propylaea the monumental colonnaded gate made of marbles; is his addition to the monuments. The temple of Artemis (daughter of Zeus who later came to be identified with moon and got adopted by Romans as Diana) was also a Peristratus creation.

Pericles and the golden age

The western side of the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens

The time when Pericles ruled is considered as the golden age for the Acropolis; as most of the constructions were made during his time. Phidias; the great Athenian sculptor, Ictinus, Kallikrates were all involved in the reconstruction works of the Acropolis. Erechtheum; a complex of temples of Athena, Poseidon, Erechtheus, Cecrops, Pandrosos, Herse etc all were made during this golden period.

The sacred temple for the Athena Parthenon was constructed after the Greek victory over the Persians on the banks of Eurymedon River, Propylaea; is a tetra-style Ionic structure with colonnaded porticos. Its facade was designed by Kallikrates with monumental gates in front and rear with marble columns originally built by Peristratus was rebuilt on its remnants.

A Greek Tragedy

The Greek Gods represented in these temples are related by the myths as follows, Hephaestus once unsuccessfully tried to rape Athena Parthenon; in his vain attempt his semen spilled on her legs. She wiped it by a piece of wool and threw on the earth. This impregnated the Mother Earth (Gaia in Greek) and a child was born by name Erichthonius. Athena wanted to make this child immortal and gave it to her three sisters (Herse. Pandrosus and Aglaulus); packing it in a basket. Athena told them not to open it at any events! But Herse could not withstand her curiosity and one day opened it; what she found was a horrible half-snake child. Seeing such a horrible sight Herse and Aglaulus ran mad and jumped off the Acropolis to death.

Acropolis now

Site plan of the Acropolis at Athens showing the major archaeological remains

The Acropolis being in the middle of the modern city of Athens; access is easy and there are large walkways with shopping arcades and restaurants in the southern and western sides of the site. After the climb the first monument that appears is the Propylae and then the Pinacotheca and Hellenistic Pedestal that stands beside the Athena Nike. There is yet another pedestal that carries the statue of Athena which was destroyed by the Turks in 1686 during their occupation. There they destroyed the statue and placed a huge cannon it Athena’s pedestal, real connoisseurs they must be! Later the statue was rebuilt in 1842 and a second time in 1936.

A visit that is worth

The Acropolis a World Heritage Site is a crowd puller of tourists from all over the world, even to people who are accustomed of seeing the photographs of the temple of Athena several times the real vision; would definitely a marvelous surprise. It took more than 15 years for its construction and has served as a temple, church and a mosque in its long history. The best time to visit this site is either in winter or in spring when there will be a grass and other plants may be all around and the rocks may not be terribly hot.

New Seven Wonders of the World

New Seven Wonders of the World

The Magical digit '7'

Seven happens to be a magical digit for man and the earth as well, seven continents, seven seas, seven colors, seven musical notes, and the ancient concept of Seven Wonders of the World.

7^th July 07 (7-7-07) was also a rare date all of sevens and was apt to coin 7 existing wonders for the world to wonder!

The 7 Wonders Society a non-profit organization promoted by Bernard Weber coined 7-7-7 for selecting the wonders, and the method he chose was unique, through voting via internet. The response from the public was tremendous; more than one hundred million people cast their vote (neglecting differences of region, religion or race), a phenomenon quite unheard of in the history of the world,

The results include worldwide online, SMS and telephone voting. The results were also miraculous, winners were from different continents while Latin America (3, Macchu Pichu, Chichen Itza and Christ the Redeemer) and Africa (2, Petra and Pyramid of Giza) and Asia (2, Great Wall of China and Taj Mahal of India) as expected topped the list (Africa has Pyramids the extra and superb wonder) Europe had to be content with just one the Colossium of Italy.

We congratulate Mr. Weber’s efforts to create awareness among public regarding the cultural heritages they have inherited, and the organization duly deserve the dramatic success it received. Mr. Weber has rightly said “if we want to save anything, we first need to truly appreciate it”. His campaign has been successful in getting people appreciating the monuments, preservation will follow.

New Seven Wonders of the World

(All the New 7 Wonders are equal and are presented as a group without any ranking.)

• The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The Chichen Itza monuments are the creation of the Maya Civilization that existed in this are during 600 AD. The whole monuments are located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula and managed by National Institute of Anthropology and History Mexico (INAH) Read the full article here

• Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The statue has a height of 39.6 meters and a total weigh 700 tons. The work started on 1926 it took just five years and monument was declared open on 31^st October, 1931. Read the full article here

• The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy

The Colosseum is the biggest structure built in the Roman Empire. The size of Colosseum was such (165feet in height and 200 feet in length) that it could easily accommodate 50,000 spectators Read the full article here

• The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China

This great structure has been granted the World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1987 and it remains as a hot destination for tourists’ world wide (since opening up of the economy China has started to emerge as a tourist destination) and this great wall remains as one of the most photographed structures in the world. Read the full article here

• Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru

The site is 7000 feet above sea-level and consists of temples, giant walls, pathways, gardens, ramps and remnants of buildings and halls all built on the terraces made on mountain slopes. Read the full article here

• Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan

This city is at present uninhabited but has the remnants of all amenities its dwellers enjoyed; all made of carved and finished granites and sandstones. The Petra city was located in the ancient trade routes between Gaza, Bosra and Damascus. Read the full article here

• The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India

The Taj is an architectural marvel formed of the fusion between Indian, Persian, Turkish and the Islamic styles. Its construction started on 1632 took 16 long years when it was finally completed in 1648! Read the full article here

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza – Mexico

Chichen Itza

The Pre-Hispanic culture

Latin America in general and the Mesoamerican region of Mexico in particular is a place where history literally lies asleep; through the monuments and images created by the numerous ethnic tribes who lived in the area centuries back. In other words we can say that these objects are sentinels of a rich culture that bound these people together for thousands of years. The Chichen Itza monuments are the creation of the Maya Civilization that existed in this are during 600 AD. The whole monuments are located in the northern center of the Yucatan Peninsula and managed by National Institute of Anthropology and History Mexico (INAH); but the land is owned by Barbachano family.

The power of myths!

The amazing constructions built by these prehistoric people remain as striking objects for the modern world to wonder that how these people in the absence of wheeled cart made all these. Still more wonderful thing is how these tribes constituted such an empire and lived together, how such fathomless myths led an empire to form a cohesive society; remains as yet another wonder; even the well armed modern military fail to hold a nation together. Please remember the Inca Empire almost whole South America and the Caribbean.

Capital of the Mayan Empire

Chichen Itza Map courtsey: cancun.bz

The Chichen Itza city (means ‘at the mouth of the well of Itza’) was the capital of the Mayan Rulers where numerous structures of great archeological value are located; while some of them are mere remnants a good number of them are intact enough to tell their tales. The ancient city of Chichen Itza lies in the Yucatan peninsula in the Mesoamerican region (the Mesoamerican region is that comes between two Americas).

No wheeled carts no animals to work

Chichen Itza - Columns in the Temple of a Thousand Warriors

These people did not know the how to tame animals and make them work and wheeled carts were also were not known to them. They were experts in geometry, medical sciences, astrology, architecture etc. Their architecture was a mixture of what prevailed in middle Mexico and the locally developed skills.

Cenote Segrado!

Northern Yucatan area where Chichen Itza is located is an arid region and there is no river or other water bodies. The whole city’s water requirement was met from two natural water holes by name cenotes. The city itself was named (as ‘well at the mouth of Chichen Itza’) so because of the presence of these two natural water holes; of which the ‘Cenote Segrado’ (sacred cenote) is the most famous (it still enjoys the status of a pilgrimage center). Examination of these natural water holes have revealed the presence of human bones with markings of ritual sacrifices; hence it is presumed that people even conducted human sacrifices to please the Gods for uninterrupted availability of water.

Tlabloc the terrible!

However good the meat is it doesn’t taste without gravy, myths are the gravy that makes the daily life bearable; for the Mayan and the Toltec there is no dearth for myths; as these were for them; their life blood. Chac and Tlaloc were their favorite gods. Tlaloc belongs to the Aztec Myths; he was considered as the rain-god as well as the god of virility. Aztecs sacrificed children to please this fearsome god with projected eyes, sharp canines, feather-cap etc. Chac is a world apart he wears an axe with which he strikes at the clouds to form lightening.

Qeqchi myth

The Sun, Moon and the Chac are brothers; they have a tyrant adoptive mother who used to abuse these sons. One day these brothers together defeat and drove away the adoptive mother and her lover. After the exit of the mother friendship between them did not last. One day Sun finds Chac doing adultery with Sun’s wife. The punishment given to Chac was such that he remembers it for ever and shed tears in the form of rain. The rain water is actually Chac’s tears. Before he starts weeping he may angrily strike the clouds with his axe to produce lightening! .

Kukulcan Temple.

Chichen Itza - Chac Mool Statue image courtsey: yucatantoday.com

Let us have a brief look these structures one by one; the first and the most prominent is the El Castillo; the Temple of Kukulcan (known as Quetzal coatl in Maya language). This is a huge step pyramid made in accordance with astronomical events. At the time of spring or fall equinoxes; the shadow of the rising and setting sun resembles a plumed serpent (a mythical creature depicted as half serpent and half bird) worshiped by Toltec and Aztec Civilizations. (Kukulcan and Quetzal coatl also mean the serpent in their language). There was one more temple unearthed from the same compound.

The temple of the Warriors

This complex is a large stepped pyramid fronted with large columns representing soldiers, at the top of the stairways on the summit of the pyramid is located a magnificent statue of the Chacmool (a lying man with head partly raised, the myth regarding it is unknown).

The Great Ball-Court, The most impressive play-field ever found in any archeological sites. It is 166 * 68 meters in size surrounded by a 12 meter tall wall. It is believed the field was used to play the Mesoamerican ball game.

Las Monjas is a complex for the Government offices; the Spanish earlier took it for a nunnery hence this name Las Monjas (nunnery) and hence the misnomer. This complex consist of numerous structures all built in ‘Puuc’ style (carvings in veneer stone embedded in concrete).

The La Iglesia in the Las Monjas complex, The High Priest’s Temple, El Caracol all are there open for the tourists.

Cultural invasion

It has been established that there was human inhabitation in Mexico more than 10,000 years back; from then to the 16^th century (up to the arrival of the Europeans) there arose so many civilizations, Izapa, Teotihuacan, Maya, Zapotec, Toltec, Aztec etc are just some of them; which were destined to arise, flourish and ultimately perish in the blessed soil of Mesoamerica. These cultures before there end fortunately left many monuments for the present world to see and remember them with affection.

Long live these monuments!

Chichen Itza - Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of the Warriors)

These are things of the past; these entire scenarios changed with the arrival of Europeans who made an invasion not only physical form; but the cultural invasion they made was far deeper that led to the death of the soul of the innocent people. The remnants of most of the monuments still have marks of burning that hints the violent reprisals these cultural monuments had undergone. As all those cultures are dead; let us hope ‘long live these monuments’!