 This type of glyph represents the king, 'ariki mau, I guess. Let's compare the different details in the Keiti glyphs of this kind:
Ea4-7, Ea4-29 and Eb8-14 are different. The first two do not have the arms and legs in a cross and the third does not have the usual head-gear. I guess that might mean e.g. that the absence of cross indicates that he is not yet inaugurated as king and that the absence of head-gear shows him in unofficial posture. Six have the 'eye' towards the right, three towards the left. Does that mean that those with 'eyes' towards the left are looking backwards? I do believe that the 'eyes' really represent eyes in this type of glyph. Van Tilburg (whose judgment I trust) has captured the sun in the eye of the king in a nice picture. |
