Sculptural ceramic ceremonial vessel that represents Ai Apaec, mythological hero of the Moche exiting the conch of the sacred mollusk Strombus sp. ML003208

A mythological episode of the heroic saga of Ai Apaec is represented in this sculptural ceramic bottle. Ai Apaec (so named by Rafael Larco, meaning "the maker” in Muchik language) is the Moche mythological personage characterized by wearing a belt and ear ornaments with snake heads, fangs in his face, and a headdress that varies according to the context in which he is located as part of his quest. Ai Apaec enters the marine world to confront the beings that inhabit it, to obtain some powers or elements that enable him to move to greater depths and obscurities. One of these beings is the marine mollusk Strombus sp. that is appreciated in the Andes and also serves as a trumpet, pututo or waylla kepa. In this ceramic ritual bottle Apaec Ai is emerging from the snail shell carrying spears and spear throwers. (UH)

En esta botella escultórica de cerámica se representa un episodio del ciclo mitológico del héroe Mochica “Ai Apaec” (así llamado por Rafael Larco, término que en lengua Muchik significa “el hacedor”) caracterizado por llevar cinturón y orejeras de serpientes, colmillos en el rostro, y un tocado que varía de acuerdo al contexto en el cual se encuentre como parte de su gesta. Ai Apaec ingresa al mundo marino a combatir con seres que lo habitan, se enfrenta con ellos y así consigue algunos poderes o elementos que lo habilitan para avanzar a mayores profundidades y oscuridades. Uno de estos seres es el molusco marino Strombus sp. que es apreciado en los Andes por servir también como trompeta, pututo o waylla kepa. En esta botella se ve a Ai Apaec emergiendo de la concha de caracol cargando lanzas y estólicas.