Hollow, buff and red burnished clay vessel in form of a magic serpent, large head and beautifully carved teeth on one end and smaller head on "tail" end lying in "S" curve (14" curved length) The neck of vessel is red and is halfway down body of serpent. Gross No. 257 PE Comments on double-headed serpents: Although data on Moche astronomy is lacking, protrayals of radient figures and double-headed serpent skybands surely had astronomical import. The snake-belt deity whose belt can be read as a skyband was probably the sun, among other aspects. The double-headed snake was certainly a common motif on textiles. The figure of Ai-Apaec nearly always has snakes forming part of his belt; occasionally he is shown fighting a monster and always a victor. He is associated with what appears to be a conception of "heaven": two scenes sometimes separated by a two-headed serpent. The personages in the upper part are demons or gods, and those below are musicians, lords or slaves.

This object has the following keywords:

• Ancient Americas
• Animal
• Funerary
• Pre-Columbian
• Vessel

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

• The Ruby Portfolio , 2/22/2020 - 8/22/2020
• Ancient Americas in a New Light , 2/26/2022 - 8/20/2022

This object is a member of the following portfolios: