Moche artists were great observers of nature,
rendering the flora and fauna of Ancient Peru
with a lively sensitivity. This unusual bottle is
adorned with images of marine life, including
several varieties of fish, a shrimp, a frog, flower-
like octopuses, and two cormorants, skilled
fishing birds. Perhaps the person for whom this
bottle was a tomb offering centuries ago made
his living as a fisherman; the vessel would have
served as an eternal reminder of the abundance
of the sea. Though the culture that created it has
vanished, we can still appreciate the intimate
bond between man and nature that it celebrates.
- (K.103)
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