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Sculptural ceramic ceremonial vessel that represents an episode of the battles of Ai Apaec, mythological hero of the Moche ML002968

Moche style1 AD - 800 AD

Museo Larco

Museo Larco
Lima, Peru

A mythological episode of the heroic cycle of Ai Apaec (so named by Rafael Larco, meaning "the maker” in Muchik language) is modeled in this sculptural ceramic bottle. Ai Apaec is a Moche 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. After his defeat by the dark world beheader, Ai Apaec, already weakened, enters the world of the dead. This episode is represented in this bottle sculpture, in which we see that Ai Apaec is being held by a seabird - that connects with the interior and humid underground world, and a vulture - a scavenger who helps him become an inhabitant of the world of the dead. The stepped motif in relief on the chamber of the bottle symbolizes the access to the world below. (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. Tras su derrota por el ser decapitador del mundo oscuro, Ai Apaec, ya debilitado, ingresa al mundo de los muertos. Este es el episodio representado en esta botella escultórica, en la que se ve que Ai Apaec está siendo sujetado por un ave marina – que lo conecta con el mundo húmedo interior y subterráneo – y un buitre – que siendo un animal carroñero lo ayuda a convertirse en un habitante del mundo de los muertos. El motivo escalonado en relieve en el cuerpo de la botella simboliza el acceso al mundo de abajo. (UH)

Details

  • Title: Sculptural ceramic ceremonial vessel that represents an episode of the battles of Ai Apaec, mythological hero of the Moche ML002968
  • Creator: Moche style
  • Date Created: 1 AD - 800 AD
  • Location Created: Trujillo, La Libertad, Peru, Peru
  • Título de la obra en español: Botella escultórica de cerámica que representa episodio de las luchas del héroe mitológico Ai Apaec ML002968
  • Style: Mochica
  • Place Part Of: Peru
  • Physical Dimensions: w145 x h200 x d175 mm (Complete object)
  • More Info: Collection Database Entry - Museo Larco - Museo Larco
  • Type: Sculptural Ceramic Ceremonial Vessel
  • Rights: Museo Larco, Museo Larco
  • External Link: Museo Larco
  • Medium: Cerámica

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