Petroglyph of the Makemake god in the Easter Islands.
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Public domain image/Wikipedia Commons
Makemake, Rapa Nui God of Fertility and Creator of Humanity
Makemake was the creator of humanity and the god of fertility in the mythology of the South Pacific island of Rapa Nui (also known as Easter Island). He was also the chief god of the bird-man cult, and was worshipped in the form of sea birds. Petroglyphs of Makemake, in the form of a man with a bird's head, can be found on Rapa Nui.
In July 2008, the name Makemake was given to a newly discovered dwarf planet. This dwarf planet received its name because it was discovered soon after Easter in 2005, and was initially nicknamed "Easterbunny." When the astronomer who discovered it chose an official name, he decided to name it after a mythological character from an island whose English name is Easter Island.
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