Peru: Did you mean...?

From the Formative Epoch (c. 1250 BCE - c. 1 CE). On Earth, the supreme leaders of this society assumed the power of the feline. The great religious, political, and economic power they accumulated enabled the development of more efficient...

This piece shows a feline, owl, serpents, and condor. The owl and condor represented the sky while the feline represented the earth and dominance. The serpent represented the subterranean world. Housed in the Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.

This ceremonial vessel made of terracotta clay comes from what is present-day Peru and was made by the Paracas Culture between the 8th-3rd centuries CE. The Paracas Culture was the forerunner to the Nazca civilization.

From the Formative Epoch (1250 BCE - 1 CE). Represents a figure with the body of a feline, head of an owl, and a serpent-like tail. These animals all had sacred and symbolic meaning in many ancient Peruvian cultures. At the Museo Larco, Lima...

Signposting at the Tucume Museum, Peru. This photo was taken by Hilary Bradt and used with permission. Date unknown.

This Wari (Huari) vessel from the Apogee Epoch (c. 1 CE - 800 CE) combines sculpture with color and has motifs outlined in black. Housed at Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.

A gold glove from a tomb of the Lambayeque Civilization of northern Peru, 900-1375 CE. (Museo Oro del Perú y Armas del Mundo, Lima, Peru)

A map showing the extent of the Chavin civilization (900-200 BCE) and its religious centre Chavin de Huantar, a celebrated site of pilgrimage.

A traditional totora reed raft on Lake Titicaca. For several pre-Columbian cultures, including the Incas, the lake was considered the centre of the cosmos and place of creation.

Extraordinarily well-preserved murals, dating from pre-Inca times, depicting stylised marine scenes. The photo was taken by Hilary Bradt and used with permission. Date of photo unknown.