Man and Llama Vessel Item Number: 45.175.3 from the Brooklyn Museum
Description
Effigy vessel in the form of a human figure playing an ornate panpipe or antara, standing adjacent to a llama. The mouth of the vessel is located on the llama's back. Cream, white, red, orange and black slips embellish the surface. Condition: good; a top element of the headdress is missing.
Credit Line
Gift of Leo E. Fleischman
Label
This vessel may represent a shaman, or ritual specialist, taking a llama to be sacrificed to Pachamama (Mother Earth) or to the mountain spirits (apus). Such ceremonies occur today during the planting and harvesting of crops in order to encourage a fertile season. The shaman, shown in an elaborate headdress and finely woven tunic, holds an ornate panpipe, or antara, whose sound imitates the animal’s cries.
Esta vasija puede representar a un chamán, o especialista ritual, llevando a una llama a ser sacrificada a la Pachamama (Madre Tierra) o a los espíritus de la montaña (apus). Tales ceremonias ocurren actualmente durante la siembra y cosecha para promover una estación fértil. El chamán, llevando un tocado elaborado y túnica finamente tejida, sostiene una zampoña decorada, o antara, cuyo sonido imita el grito del animal.
Item History
- Made between 201 BCE and 600
What
Who
- Culture
- Recuay
Where
- Holding Institution
- Brooklyn Museum
When
- Creation Date
- between 201 BCE and 600
Other
- Location
- Arts of the Americas Galleries, 5th Floor
- Classification
- Vessel