Art Institute of Chicago

Fragment of a Drum Chamber

Ceramist unknown (Nazca)LinkedCulture matchlcp-bd1bf4c02d5e

Date

180 BCE–500 CE

Medium

Earthenware and slip

Culture

Peruvian South Coast

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Object ID

183073

This monumental ceramic ceremonial drum or a storage container—its long crack was repaired in antiquity—displays scenes depicting military triumph. On the upper tier, composite supernatural creatures combine forms derived from predatory birds, felines, and fish, thereby manifesting the powers of the sky, earth, and sea. These otherworldly beings feast on human captives and trophy heads, emphasizing that the natural world is not only nurturing, but also dangerous. Nazca warriors also hold weapons and trophy heads, and wear similar masks and headdresses to those worn by the composite figures, signifying that the ultimate source of their military prowess is derived from the supernatural realm. A group of elaborately attired individuals witness the sacrifices of the prisoners captured in battle. Military expeditions and ceremonies were timed to the seasonal rhythms of the environment in order to stimulate the powers of the natural world upon which human societies depended. — Permanent collection descriptive text

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