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Man and Llama Vessel

Arts of the Americas

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.
CULTURE Recuay
MEDIUM Ceramic, pigment
DATES 200 B.C.E.-600
DIMENSIONS 9 5/16 x 8 1/16 x 3 15/16 in. (23.7 x 20.5 x 10 cm)  (show scale)
COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER 45.175.3
CREDIT LINE Gift of Leo E. Fleischman
CATALOGUE 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.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Recuay. Man and Llama Vessel, 200 B.C.E.-600. Ceramic, pigment, 9 5/16 x 8 1/16 x 3 15/16 in. (23.7 x 20.5 x 10 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Leo E. Fleischman, 45.175.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 45.175.3_acetate_bw.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 45.175.3_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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