Stirrup Spout Vessel Depicting an Owl Supernatural Decapitator

In Moche art, birds of prey are sometimes depicted as Supernatural Decapitators who sever the heads of sacrificial victims. This Decapitator Owl has a face with human eyes and wears a mask with jaguar fangs. Holding a crescent shaped tumi knife to sever the head of its victim, it carries a conch shell on its back, and has a noose around its neck like those used to restrain captives.