Sculptural ceramic ceremonial vessel that represents Ai Apaec, mythological hero of the Moche with the body of a blow-fish ML003434

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 a belt and ear ornaments with snake heads, fangs are visible in his mouth, 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 blowfish, which being a poisonous animal is considered a guardian of the entrance to the marine world. When Ai Apaec defeats him, he can move forward and enter the deeper worlds. This ceramic ritual bottle represents Ai Apaec with the body of the blowfish. (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, y con quienes se enfrenta. Uno de estos seres es el pez globo, que por ser un animal venenoso es considerado un guardián del ingreso al mundo marino. Cuado Ai Apaec lo vence, puede seguir avanzando en su ingreso a mayores profundidades marinas. En esta botella de cerámica se representa a Ai Apaec con el cuerpo del pez globo. (UH)