Sculptural ceramic ceremonial vessel that represents a mythological bird runner ML002429

This sculptural ceramic bottle represents a mythological running bird. One of the most frequently recurring themes in Moche art is the race between human beings or anthropomorphic beings with the features of animals, carrying bags with lima beans and sticks in their hands. In this race the runners participated wearing their finest clothing and elaborate headdresses, the most characteristic of which were the circular and the trapezoid frontal headdresses. The ritual version of this mythological race would have been a major competition and initiation ceremony of the young warriors of the Moche society of Peru's northern coast. (UH)

Esta botella escultórica de cerámica representa un ave corredora mitológica. Un tema frecuentemente representado en el arte Mochica es el de la carrera de seres humanos o seres antropomorfos con rasgos de animales, portando bolsas con pallares y palillos en las manos. En esta carrera, los corredores participan con sus mejores vestidos, y llevan elaborados adornos de cabeza de forma circular o trapezoidal. La versión ritual de esta carrera mitológica habría sido uno de los principales rituales de competencia e iniciación de los jóvenes guerreros de la sociedad Mochica de la costa norte del Perú. (UH)