What are the marae?
The marae were spaces dedicated to social and religious ancient Polynesians ceremonial activities. Some were small, including many altars called marae tupuna, family altars. Not all the marae belonged to the upper class all of ari'i, but they generally had the largest and highest marae. If the design and construction of a marae ranged from one island to another, the basic architecture generally comprised a rectangular courtyard or marae, provided a platform ('ahu) to one of its ends, and a set of standing stones.
Place of worship of ancestors and some deities, the marae was a meeting place between the people and the powers that it was important to obtain favors from. The religious ceremonies gave rise to prayers ('upu pure), invocations (ti'aorora'a) and offerings (pūpūra'a ō).
