Through these animals, he is connected to all three worlds: the sky/gods via the bird feathers, the earth/living via the jaguar headdress and fangs, and the underground/ancestors via the snake earrings. In Moche art, we can identify Ai Apaec by his fangs, a jaguar headdress with bird feathers, and snake earrings. Ai Paec or Ai Apaec was the creator and sky god.While certain aspects related to their beliefs have been lost to time, we do know of several gods important to the Moche people.
Like most Andean cultures, there was a deep connection with the cycle of life and death. Moche religion was heavily influenced by the preceding Chavin culture. Image: Huaca del Brujo – Facade by Veronique Debord-Lazaro, used under CC BY-SA 2.0 / Compressed from original Much of what we know of the Moche civilization today comes from the long-lasting designs on their ceramics that tell the stories of their people.Ī wall within the El Brujo complex. Regardless, their capacity to tell a story through visuals and symbols in their art is impressive. Contrarily, other researchers believe these designs relate to agricultural cycles, games or a number of other purposes. Lines, dots, zigzags and other symbols painted on lima beans led to this conclusion. While the Moche people did not have a written language, archaeologist and founder of the Larco Museum Rafael Larco Hoyle proposed that they had a type of proto-writing. However, as they are now extinct, it may not be possible to confirm this relationship. Some linguists believe both belonged to the Chimuan language family. Through the rest of their territory to the south, they spoke the Quingan language. North of the Lambayeque Valley, the people spoke the Muchik or Mochica language. The Moche civilization spoke two distinct languages. This culture is best known for their intricately decorated ceramics, goldwork, and monumental constructions known as huacas. Devastating environmental changes, possibly due to the El Niño phenomenon, combined with foreign invasions and internal social conflict, ultimately led to the fall of the Moche. There was not one single cause of the Moche civilization’s collapse, but rather a combination of events. The period of decline began around the year 600 CE.This was the peak of their success in all facets: militarily, culturally and economically. The expansion of the Moche lasted from approximately 300-600 CE.The Lord of Sipán, a mummy discovered in the Huaca Rajada, was an important figure in the later years of this period. During this period, the Moche took over neighboring people with military and ideological force. The rise of this civilization lasted from approximately 150-300 CE.Historians generally divide the history of the Moche into three periods: While there is no written record of the Moche civilization, scientists have determined much about this culture through their artifacts and archaeological research. During their several hundred year reign, they made quite a mark on the history of Peru. The Moche thrived from approximately 100-800 CE.
Map provided by Kim MacQuarrie, our Peru specialist. Dominating the Chicama and Trujillo Valleys, the Moche civilization ultimately expanded up to the Piura Valley and down to the Huarmey Valley.Ī map of the Moche civilization’s location (in yellow). Its capital city, Moche, was located near modern-day Trujillo. The Moche civilization was located in the northern coastal region of Peru. Their unique history and culture are well worth learning about to better understand Peru today. From intricately designed ceramics and temples, researchers have gained important insight into the lives of the Moche people. Their artistic techniques, and in particular their ceramics, have garnered great international attention and acclaim. Dominating the northern coast, the Moche came to be one of the most important groups in Peruvian history. The Moche civilization, also known as the Early Chimu or Mochica culture, flourished from approximately 100 to 800 CE. The ancient Moche civilization of Peru existed long before the Inca.