Offering Vessel
900-200 B.C.E.
Cupisnique
Arts of the Americas
The Cupisnique people produced carved stone bowls embellished with complex mythological beings. The figure on this vessel represents a spider with two human arms and legs, and eight radiating trophy heads. It holds a knife in one hand and a decapitated head in the other. A snake emerges from a Strombus shell in the genital area.
The trophy heads allude to the figure’s supernatural powers. The spider may be associated with fertility rituals and stories of human sacrifice.
The trophy heads allude to the figure’s supernatural powers. The spider may be associated with fertility rituals and stories of human sacrifice.
- Maker/Artist
- Cupisnique
- Classification
- Vessel
- Formatted Medium
- Carved steatite, pigment
- Locations
- Place made: North Coast, Peru
- Dimensions
- 1 7/8 x 6 5/8 x 6 5/8 in. (4.8 x 16.8 x 16.8 cm)
- Departments
- Arts of the Americas
- Accession Number
- 71.23
- Credit Line
- Gift of The Roebling Society and Dick S. Ramsay Fund
- Exhibitions
- American Art
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- This item is not on view
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