Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
The Staff God is an ancient artifact found in the Andean region of South America. It consists of a wooden staff topped with multiple heads or faces carved in stone or wood. It represents divine power and was used in religious ceremonies.
AP course connection
Topic 9.2: 9.2 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Pacific Art
Moai: Massive stone statues found on Easter Island that represent ancestral figures and hold spiritual significance for the Rapa Nui people.
Chacmool: A type of Mesoamerican sculpture depicting a reclining figure holding a tray on its stomach, often associated with sacrificial rituals.
Totem Pole: Tall wooden poles carved with various symbols and figures representing ancestral spirits or clan histories among Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest.