Makemake (deity) facts for kids
Makemake (pronounced Mah-keh-mah-keh) is a very important god in the Rapa Nui mythology of Easter Island. He is known as the creator of people and the god of fertility. Makemake was also the main god of the "Tangata manu" or bird-man group. This group became important after the time of the famous Moai statues on the island.
Many Rapa Nui petroglyphs (rock carvings) show Makemake. He is often shown as a face with big eyes, or sometimes like a skull with large eye sockets and a noticeable nose.
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The Birdman Ceremony
The biggest religious festival on Easter Island was the bird-man ceremony. This event was closely connected to the worship of the god Makemake. It is the only festival for which we still have many details.
Motu Nui and the Sooty Tern
Makemake was believed to guide birds to nest on the small island of Motu Nui. This islet was the main place for the tangata-manu (bird-man) group. Four gods were linked to this ceremony: Makemake, Haua-tuꞌu-take-take (also called Haua), vîꞌe Hoa (Haua's wife), and vîꞌe Kenatea. Each of these gods had a special helper.
The ceremony focused on finding the first egg of the manu tara, or sooty tern bird. The goal was to find this first egg.
Roles in the Ceremony
An ivi atua was a 'seer' or someone who had visions. They would choose who would swim to Motu Nui. A hopu was one of the people who made the swim to the islet. The hopu manu were those who helped the tagata manu. When they found the first manutara egg, they would take it to Orongo on the main island.
Makemake's Companions
Makemake's main friend was Haua. Whenever people made an offering to Makemake, they always included Haua in their prayers. This shows that Haua was seen as the god's close companion.
Makemake was also believed to have children named Tive, Rorai, Hova, and a noblewoman called Arangi-kote-kote.
Makemake in Modern Times
Makemake's story and image have appeared in modern culture.
The Lost Gods of Easter Island
In 2000, the BBC made a documentary called "The Lost Gods of Easter Island." This film explored a carved wooden statue that David Attenborough bought. It was cheap because the seller thought it was fake. The documentary showed the statue's journey: it was carved from Toromiro wood on Easter Island (a tree now extinct there). It was then traded with Captain Cook's ship crew, traveled to Tahiti, and eventually ended up in an auction. This statue was believed to represent the god Makemake.
Astronomy
There is a dwarf planet in space named Makemake. It is a trans-Neptunian object, meaning it orbits the Sun beyond Neptune. This dwarf planet was named Makemake because both the planet and Easter Island are connected to Easter. The planet was discovered shortly after Easter in 2005. Also, the first Europeans arrived at Easter Island on Easter Sunday in 1722. The dwarf planet's first nickname was "Easterbunny."
