Double Spout and Bridge Vessel with Painted Motifs

The painted motif on opposite sides of this vessel represents the Anthropomorphic Mythical Being, one of the most frequently depicted themes in Nasca art. Although the exact meaning of this figure remains unknown, it is interpreted as a composite creature symbolic of the powerful natural forces that controlled the Nasca world. The creature has morphed into a bird, complete with wing panels and tail feathers; a bloody club is clutched in one hand. Black and white hatching above the waist symbolizes water and reflects the creature’s association with fertility. The small figure at the bottom may represent a trophy head with a pepper plant for a tongue.