Basic terminology that is often used in discussions about pre-Columbian art. Test yourself with a quiz at the bottom!
Dr. Sarahh Scher
The image of a divine figure holding staffs or similar objects in its hands would persist in Andean art long past the time of Chavín.
The Staff God at Chavín de Huántar ...
The ritual this was made for was enacted in fields the Inka owned — in the Chancay lands they had conquered.
An Inka paccha
The blending of human and animal traits in this figure shows us that the Chancay people were keen observers of nature.
Chancay Standing Female Figure
This image is so complex that its features could only be perceived, let alone understood, by the initiated.
Complexity and vision: the Staff God at ...
Feline fangs, rather than human teeth, suggest that this figure is either supernatural or in contact with deities.
Inverse-Face Beaker
Grave robbing destroyed much of the archaeological context in Sicán—can what remains unlock the past?
What the bulldozers left behind: reclaiming Sicán’s ...
The Kingdom of Chimor was conquered by the Inka, but impressive adobe walls survive in their capital, Chan Chan.
Introduction to the Chimú culture
Deserts, jungles, and mountains—the architectural and artistic practices of this region were broad and varied.
Introduction to Andean Cultures
The Inka empire spanned from Ecuador to Chile, and was connected by a road system used for official business only.
Introduction to the Inka
Multiple points of view are combined in the decoration of this vessel, tip it and see!
Feline-Head Bottle
Not one unified political entity, the Moche were independent groups who shared common ideas—and artistic forms.
Moche culture, an introduction
Thousands of ceramic bottles were produced by Moche ceramicists, and many multiples were made using molds.
Moche Portrait Head Bottle
Made of gold and inlaid stone, these earflares were probably worn for ceremonies rather than daily.
Pair of Earflares, Winged Messengers
We don’t know what the makers of this figure called her, but we can tell that she is at once human and animal.
Doe Shaman Effigy
Andean cultures had long valued textiles, but they were especially significant and finely-made in the Inka Empire.
All-T’oqapu Tunic
The Inka emperor hosted feasts, performed religious ceremonies, and ruled his empire from this remote citadel.
Machu Picchu
It has been argued that Cusco was laid out in the shape of a puma, symbolizing Inka might.
City of Cusco
The location of Chavín between the desert coast and Amazon made it a key site for transmission of artistic style.
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