Statue of Taweret/Theories/Meaning
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Multiple theories on the meaning of the statue have been presented.
Contents |
The statue
Ward
Given that the statue was built near the coast, looking towards the sea, it is very likely that its function was either as a symbolic/mystical ward against foreign threats or a beacon/location indicator like the Colossus of Rhodes. It could also have been built to intimidate any potential threat coming from the sea. The gigantic size of the statue suggests that it acts as a warning sign to all those who are about to come to the island.
Guidance
It is used for pointing to the bearing on/off the island.
Historic
It is just a sign that the island has been a part of a number of people's lives over the course of human history (WWII, Dharma Initiative), but is otherwise insignificant.
Pregnancy and Motherhood
The Egyptian goddess Taweret was seen as a deity of protection in pregnancy and childbirth. She was often depicted carrying an ankh, the symbol of life, or a knife (Jacob and his knife at the beginning...), to symbolize protection from evil spirits. Maybe the incident, if and when it blew up the statue, caused the island to become vulnerable to evil spirits and lose its protection for pregnant mothers. This explains why women can't come to full term (or conceive AND give birth) on the island.
- Given The Others issues with childbearing, it is probable that an ancient society built the statue of Tawaret in hopes that the goddess would help them when they experienced similar problems with reproduction.
Counter Evidence
Ethan was born on the Island after the destruction of the statue (La Fleur). Aaron was born on Island after the destruction of the Statue.
Tawaret and Apep
Tawaret is the goddess of Motherhood, and was connected to Apep, the God of evil who is often depicted as a giant snake. In the temple, the heiroglyphics show the smoke monster as a snake.
- Apep's greatest enemy was Ra, the bringer of light. Ra = R.A - Richard Alpert.
The 4 toes
Congenital malformation
The makers of the statue had and depicted a congenital physical malformation, the result of a small population and the lack of genetic variety. Abnormalities in digits, toes, fertility and infant mortality can be the result of a restricted gene pool [1] [2]. The small gene pool can lead to the emergence of genetic mutations - recessive traits that would normally be either dormant or replaced by a "healthy" version of the gene from the other parent. But with a small gene pool where parents have many genes in common, there are no healthy genes to replace the mutation. Higher incidence of polydactylism (i.e. too many fingers or toes) have been observed in genetically restricted communities, such as the Amish [3]. The makers of the statue may have come from a very small gene pool. Highly restricted gene pools are common on islands, and have lead to the evolution of animals that differ radically from their off island relatives (see pygmy elephants [4] and island giantism, such as the moa [5].
Evidence
- It appears as though the statue was modeled after someone born without a fifth toe, not someone who lost a toe.
Counter-Evidence
- The Egyptian motifs would seem to rule this out, as many Egyptian deities were depicted with various non-human features, including unusual feet. The front of the statue also appears to be a non-human face, as seen in "The Incident, Parts 1 & 2".
Pharaoh’s trait
Egyptian figures were sometimes represented to mimic Egyptian pharaohs. For example, during the Amarna Period in Egyptian history human figures in art took on the peculiar characteristics of the pharaoh Akhenaten, with exaggerated bellies and skinny arms. If the statue was built during a time when a pharaoh had only 4 toes, then the statue may have been built to mimic said pharaoh.
Ancient civilization
The statue was built by a race of humans who had only 4 toes. Jacob is the last remaining member of this race.
The ankhs
The statue is holding 2 ankhs, implying a duality of physical life and the afterlife. The island holds both in a single physical place.
Possible Cultural Antecedents
- The statue may be in reference to a story, Headlong Hall by Thomas Love Peacock.
- Chapter 4 notes, "Here you see is the pedestal of a statue, with only half a leg and four toes remaining: there were many here once. When I was a boy, I used to sit every day on the shoulders of Hercules: what became of him I have never been able to ascertain."
- The statue may be in reference to the poem "On a Stupendous Leg of Granite", by Horace Smith. The poem begins, "In Egypt's sandy silence, all alone, / Stands a gigantic Leg / The only shadow that the Desert knows:". The poem refers to the fallen Ramesses II colossus near Luxor, Egypt. The poem is about the irony of power--and the end of powerful civilizations. Percy Bysshe Shelley's version of the poem, "Ozymandias," also describes the foot statue.
- The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, snapped off mid-leg in an earthquake 56 years after it was built.
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