MOCHE culture North coast 100 – 800 AD
Bead in the form of an owl’s head 100-800 AD gold and turquoise3.7 (h) x 3.3 (w) cm Ministerio de Cultura del Perú: Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipán, Lambayeque Photograph: Museo Tumbas Reales de Sipán
Sculptural gold beads representing important animals and birds were strung together to form necklaces. Frogs represented a perfect link between earth and water and were venerated by the desert-dwelling Moche, who relied on irrigation. The Owl Warrior was a key god in the Moche pantheon. Along with the capture of prisoners for sacrifice, he conducted the dead to the afterlife. Ornaments showing owls were reserved for the military or priestly elite.
Sculptural gold beads representing important animals and birds were strung together to form necklaces. Frogs represented a perfect link between earth and water and were venerated by the desert-dwelling Moche, who relied on irrigation. The Owl Warrior was a key god in the Moche pantheon. Along with the capture of prisoners for sacrifice, he conducted the dead to the afterlife. Ornaments showing owls were reserved for the military or priestly elite.
Sculptural gold beads representing important animals and birds were strung together to form necklaces. Frogs represented a perfect link between earth and water and were venerated by the desert-dwelling Moche, who relied on irrigation. The Owl Warrior was a key god in the Moche pantheon. Along with the capture of prisoners for sacrifice, he conducted the dead to the afterlife. Ornaments showing owls were reserved for the military or priestly elite.
