12 Sacred Groves & Mystical Forests Revered by Ancient Cultures

10. Taputapuātea Marae, Raiatea, French Polynesia: Where Ocean Gods Were Invoked Amidst Sacred Flora

Taputapuātea, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Raiatea, was the central temple and religious center of ancient Eastern Polynesia. This coastal marae (sacred ceremonial site) was not just stone platforms but was intrinsically linked to the surrounding sacred groves and the ocean. Here, navigators and priests gathered, invoking gods like 'Oro, with specific trees and plants within the marae's precincts holding spiritual significance. This ingenious complex represents a nexus of political power, ancestral worship, and deep reverence for the interconnectedness of land, sea, and spirit.