The Return of a Stolen Cultural Treasure to Peru
An Exhibition of a Moche Gold Artifact
at the University of Pennsylvania Museum July 16 through August 8, 1998
The "Decapitator" Motif on the Rattle

Moche cultural beliefs are reflected in
the designs they used to decorate objects they made.

The Moche were experienced artisans, working with gold, silver, copper, pottery, textiles, feathers and wood.

Similar rattles from Sipan have
shell inlay in the mouth and eyes.

The top part of the backflap is a rattle -- the round "bells" had copper pellets [now gone] which made noise when the wearer moved.

These "bells" encircle a motif which archaeologists have dubbed "the Decapitator."

Notice the "Decapitator's" own necklace.
Are they bells?

The "Decapitator" holds a sacrificial knife in one hand and a severed head in the other. Sacrifice is a common theme in Moche art. The ritual sacrifice of warriors taken in battle may have been practiced to insure rainfall and agricultural fertility. The figure may relate to the spider that captures its victim in a web and sucks its blood dry.

[drawing by Alexei Vranich]

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