Stirrup Spout Vessel Depicting a Human/Jaguar Transformation

Snakes, humans and creatures with impossible bodies are common in Andean art and illustrate how a shaman or priest entered the spirit world to seek advice from an ancestor, nature spirit or deity. On this ceramic the human ruler or shaman emerges from the U-shaped ritual space created by a serpent with double jaguar heads. On the other side the serpent is supported by Wrinkle Face, an important Moche deity. Behind Wrinkle Face is a San Pedro cactus, source of the vision.