Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MOCHE
When it comes to ceramics, there is no Andean civilization that compares to the Moche (
Click here
)
, a culture that inhabited the Peruvian north coast from about AD 100 to AD
800. Though not inherently urban, they built sophisticated ceremonial centers, such as the
frieze-laden Huacas del Sol y de la Luna (
Click here
)
, outside of modern-day Trujillo, and
the elaborate burial site of Sipán (
Click here
), near Chiclayo. They had a well-maintained
network of roads and a system of relay runners who carried messages, probably in the form
of symbols carved onto beans.
But it's their portrait pottery that makes the Moche a standout: lifelike depictions of indi-
viduals (scars and all) are so skillfully rendered they seem as if they are about to speak out.
Artisans often created multiple portraits of a single person over the course of a lifetime.
One scholar, in fact, recorded 45 different pieces depicting the same model. Other ceramics
showcase macho activities such as hunting, combat and ritual sacrifice. This doesn't mean,
however, that the Moche didn't know a thing or two about love - they are famous for their
downright acrobatic depictions of human sex (on view at Lima's Museo Larco,
Click here
).
