'Face' can be translated as either ariga or mata. Possibly the 'eyes' (mata) in the left variant above indicates an intended 'reading' as mata erua rather than ariga erua.

The 'face' seems to refer to the shining 'face' of the sun. When it is dark, as for instance during a rainy season, ariga erua glyphs apparently do not show any 'eyes' (mata), which the example at left illustrates:

*Ha9-42	*Ha9-43		Hb9-42	Hb9-43
no 'eyes'	ua (rain)		two 'faces'	kava (new fire)