Single Spout Bottle with Modeled Face on Neck Possibly 700 - 1000

This ceramic bottle with a modeled face on its neck was made by the Tiwanaku people. Observe the face with its striking vertical lines painted below each eye; this is not merely decoration, but an embodiment of power. These lines, resembling tears or perhaps ritualistic markings, echo across cultures and centuries. We see similar motifs in ancient Mesopotamian art, where lines on faces denote status or divine connection. Think of the ancient Greek kouroi figures, whose almond-shaped eyes and serene expressions are imbued with similar symbolic weight. It appears that this image engages us on a subconscious level. The face, with its enigmatic gaze, touches upon our collective memory of human representation and engages with our enduring quest to visualize the divine, the powerful, and the eternal. Through its symbolism, the Tiwanaku bottle transcends its function as a mere vessel, and it becomes a powerful cultural artifact.