Tombeau Du Roi Pomare V

The tomb of king Pomare V is at 'Outu'ai'ai point at PK 7.4 in the municipality of Arue. The imposing monument is a pyramid with a rectangular base and has an amphora, or urne, at the top. It is made entirely of blocks of coral cemented together. King Pomare V died from alcoholism on June 12, 1891. His reign lasted just three years (1877-1880) before he presented Tahiti and its dependancies to France, making them possessions of the "établissements français d'Océanie". The tomb had originally been built for his mother, her majesty Queen Pomare IV, who had reigned over Tahiti for fifty years and she was buried there on September 17, 1877. But her unloving son had her body exhumed ten years later and placed in the royal cemetry of the Pomare family, next to the graves of King Pomare 1st, Pomare ll and Pomare lll. He then reserved the tomb at 'Outu'ai'ai for himself. The Queen's tomb thus became the King's tomb and is considered by most to be a masterpiece of its kind. However, Paul Gauguin, who attended the funeral, was disgusted by this "venerable monument which is in such contrast with the beauty of nature".