Spiral Tattos as Solar Calendar

The portrait above is of a young Maori Chieftain, painted by British artist George Angas in 1846. Note the use of the double spirals, in miniature, on each side of the nose, and larger spirals on each cheek. The cheek spirals are marked by double lines, which track the sun's movement inward to the centre of the spiral (solstice), where it turns and moves toward the equinox (marked by the bridge of the nose). The sun then continues its journey to the other solstice position on the opposite side of the face.

Conch Shell

Throughout the Pacific Islands, conch-shell trumpets mark a chief's status and power. The local term for "conch," putaara, also means chief, ruler, and priest.

Koru

Koru is the Maori name given to new, unfurling fern fronds, which symbolize new life, growth, strength, and peace. Koru is an integral symbol in Maori carving and tattoos.

Spirals and Death Rituals

Oceanian tradition recounts how the soul, after death, meets a dreadful hag, who, devouring the soul’s tattoos, says,

"Pass from Maura,

Land of the living,

to Bouro, land of the dead."

Then, by touching the soul's eyes, she gives him

the vision of the spirits.

If she finds no tattoos

she eats his eyeballs,

thus blinding the soul

and preventing him from

finding immortality.

Prehistoric Art > Oceania

Fire Spinning

Prow of a Maori war canoe,

Taheretikitiki, ceremonial Maori waka.

Orakei, New Zealand. Postcard, circa 1910.