A statue resembling a Hindu deity has gone viral on social media after a group of hikers discovered it near the summit of Mount Ile Mandiri in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
The discovery was made by a group of 28 hikers who reached the summit on Wednesday, August 12. The statue has attracted public attention because of its appearance, which some people say resembles a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva. However, local authorities have yet to determine the statue’s origin, age, or historical significance.
Hikers Discover Statue at the Summit
One of the hikers, Febby Leba, said the group consisted of 28 people accompanied by two local guides. The group included members of the Indonesian Navy, several police officers, members of the Nagi Runners community, and other hiking enthusiasts from across Flores.
According to Febby, the group began their ascent at around 2 a.m. local time and reached the mountain’s summit at approximately 11 a.m. The hikers noticed the statue near the summit, where it appeared to have been cemented directly onto a rock.
“The statue was already there at the summit and was cemented to the rock. The grass around it had been cleared, so the statue could be seen clearly,” Febby said. Photos of the statue were subsequently shared on social media, quickly attracting attention from the public.
Statue Sparks Debate Over Its Origin
The discovery has generated mixed reactions online. Some people have taken the discovery seriously and questioned whether the statue could be connected to an ancient historical site. Others have treated it as an ordinary object whose origin remains unknown.
Interest in the discovery has also been fueled by several recent reports of historical objects resembling Hindu deities being found in the waters near Konga Village, Titehena District. Those discoveries have raised interest in the possibility of uncovering more historical artifacts in East Flores.
However, experts and local authorities have not yet established whether the statue on Mount Ile Mandiri is genuinely an archaeological artifact or a more recent creation.
Tourism and Cultural Authorities to Investigate
The East Flores Tourism and Culture Office said it plans to investigate the discovery.
Hery Lamawuran, head of the East Flores Tourism and Culture Office, said officials currently do not have enough information to determine whether the statue is connected to a historical heritage site.
“We will find time to conduct further investigation,” Hery said when contacted on Thursday, August 13. He emphasized that further examination is needed before authorities can determine the statue’s historical significance.
Officials Have Not Confirmed Whether It Is an Ancient Artifact
Silvester Petara Hurit, head of the Cultural and Arts Development Division at the East Flores Tourism and Culture Office, also said there was not enough information to draw conclusions about the statue.
Officials still need to determine whether the object is a carved stone, a cast statue, or part of a larger structure. They also want to establish whether it has any connection to other objects, structures, or potential archaeological sites in the surrounding area.
“Whether this is a stone carving or a cast, and whether it is connected to other objects, structures, or sites nearby, we do not yet have enough information,” Silvester said.
Further Research Needed
Although the statue has been described by some observers as resembling Lord Shiva, its actual identity and historical background remain unconfirmed. A proper archaeological investigation would be needed to determine when the statue was created, who made it, and whether it has any connection to historical Hindu traditions in the region.
For now, the viral discovery remains an intriguing mystery on Mount Ile Mandiri. Local authorities are expected to conduct further investigation before making any official statement about the statue’s origin or significance.
