Vessel Depicting a Costumed Ritual Performer Wearing a Feline Mask c. 180 - 500

This is a ceramic vessel depicting a costumed ritual performer wearing a feline mask, created by the Nazca people of ancient Peru. Considered a precious item, this vessel was made to hold liquids, perhaps water, or chicha, a type of corn beer, and was likely used in religious ceremonies. The feline mask on the figure represented here, with its large eyes and pointed ears, was a symbol of power, and would have been worn by high-ranking members of society. Through these ritual performances, individuals sought to connect with the supernatural world. The Nazca people, who lived in the arid coastal region of Peru, had a deep understanding of their environment. Their ability to thrive depended on their understanding of the cycles of nature. Here, the imagery evokes a world where humans and animals are interchangeable, and where ritual performance was a way to ensure the fertility of the land. The vessel offers us a glimpse into the beliefs and practices of a society that saw the world as a place of constant exchange between the human, natural, and supernatural realms.