Moche warrior pot

Warfare, warriors, prisoners and sacrifice are recurring themes in Moche art and testify to violent inter-valley rivalries. Moche warfare, while ‘real’ in the sense that fighting took place, appears also to have had a ritual purpose; to capture prisoners for sacrifice.

This warrior is poised ready for action, or perhaps only to serve as a sentry guarding palace entrances or staircases. He is wearing a white, sleeveless tunic, which is decorated with a dark red swirling pattern that also adorns his cone-shaped helmet, and a short loincloth with dark red dots, decorated belt and wrist-guards.

These highly visual patterns would have communicated community identity and affiliation. He is crouching on one knee with a circular shield on one arm and grips a wooden club, possibly with a heavy stone mace-head, in his right hand. Real examples of such weapons, armour and clothing have been found.

Vessels of kneeling warriors like this one were mass-produced by the Moche civilisation.

Excavations at the burial site of Dos Cabezas in Peru found skeletons of so-called ‘Moche Giants’. The wear on the bones and joints of these individuals is consistent with someone who maintained this specific pose for long periods over many years as a kneeling warrior.

Other skeletal evidence reveals injuries sustained by blows from clubs as part of active war service. The vessels themselves seem to have served as symbolic tomb guardians, as they are found interred in large numbers in high-status burials.