article_snippet.sent: All the figures have overly-large heads and are thought to be living faces of deified ancestors.
article_snippet.sent: All the figures are believed to be symbol of authority and power.
article_snippet.sent: All the figures may have embodied former chiefs and were repositories of spirits or 'mana'.
article_snippet.sent: All the figures are positioned so that ancient ancestors watch over the villages, while seven look out to sea to help travellers find land.