This dynamic vessel takes the form of a killer whale—Orcinus orca—a creature both feared and revered by the coastal-dwelling Nazca. Identifiable by its black back, white belly, and zigzag of sharp teeth, the killer whale is a voracious predator. Here, the teeth appear bloodied from a recent meal. The victim of this feast was not a fellow sea creature but a person, whose trophy head is painted on the whale’s belly. Based on the belief that the life force was centered in the head, the trophy head cult was a key factor in religious life along Peru’s south coast.
Killer whales have a long history in the art of this region, predating even the Nazca culture. Scenes of whales and other sea creatures threatening humans are common in Nazca art, illustrating the ever-present dangers of the sea.
The Nazca culture produced terra-cotta vessels of extraordinary quality, mastering the application of polychrome slip painting to pre-fired clay. Thin-walled vessels such as this example are typical of Nazca art. Although Nazca ceramics are usually simple in shape, some—especially during the early period—are modeled in enterprising ways. Twelve different colors decorate the surface of this vessel.
Located on the west coast of South America, Peru is home to a variety of climates and geographies. From the dry coastal plains in the west to the rugged Andes Mountains in the center and the tropical jungle of the Amazon basin in the east, Peru is a land of extremes. Peru’s southern coast—once home to the Nazca—is a desert.
The Nazca are one of the oldest and most mysterious cultures of Peru. These desert dwellers developed advanced farming methods, building an irrigation system to cultivate the dry soil. They were also skilled weavers, potters, and architects. However, the Nazca are perhaps most famous for the perplexing Nazca Lines, which remain visible today.
The Nazca Lines constitute gigantic ground art, the complete imagery of which is visible only from the air. By removing the dark topsoil to expose the light-colored earth beneath, the Nazca carved huge linear representations of people, plants, and animals. While the purpose of these images is uncertain, archaeologists speculate that they were of religious or astronomical importance.
The Nazca were contemporaries of the Moche, who lived along the northern coast of Peru. Both cultures relied upon the sea as a source of food and folklore. Marine themes—such as sea creatures and fishermen—appear frequently in Nazca and Moche art.
