Man and Llama Vessel

Item number 45.175.3 from the Brooklyn Museum.

Public

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Data
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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.