Sculptural ceramic ceremonial vessel that represents the sexual union of Ai Apaec and a mythological woman ML004211

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 in his face, and a headdress that varies according to the context in which he is located as part of his quest. Ai Apaec copulates with a woman, and holds her lower jaw with his hand in a gesture that is associated with the world of the death. This union would be occurring in the world of the ancestors, the context being reinforced by the stepped design embossed on the bottom of the bottle, which could symbolize the access to the inner world.

Botella escultórica de cerámica que representa una escena de coito entre el héroe mitológico Mochica Ai Apaec y una mujer. Ai Apaec muestra los colmillos de felino en su rostro, y viste su tocado de media luna con dos penachos frontales, los pendientes de cabezas de serpientes y la camisa con el diseño escalonado. Sujeta la mandíbula inferior de la mujer con su mano, en un gesto que está asociado al mundo de abajo. Esta unión se estaría dando en el mundo de los ancestros, contexto reforzado por el diseño escalonado en relieve en la parte inferior de la botella, que estaría simbolizando el acceso al mundo inferior.