Chavín serpent with feline head

The feline is a powerful predator, capable of instilling fear and taking the lives of its prey. It was believed that Chavín priests could transform themselves into felines and communicate with supernatural forces. For this transformation, they used a substance extracted from the San Pedro cactus, a hallucinogenic that enabled them to activate their senses. The San Pedro cactus is depicted on this vessel, near the feline head.