Shamanism in Moche Art and Iconography - Maya Exploration Center

skeletal death figures(Henson 19723144-148).Donnan shows threedifferent versions of the same scene describing it as a ceremonyi r~volvirtg se:.:ual intercourse and human cannibal i Em (f igure 68) .Therie tt.~ree scene% have most a11 of the components this paper hasshnwn were cnnnecteij tn the Moche concept of shamanism.Attendants stand outside the enc:lnsLlre with spirits fl.04a'kingoverhead. The puppy scratcher, at the outside wall. In two ofthe thrr!~:? scenes severe13 heads +%oat nearby.In a nearbyc?riclc~!;r..~r-e, wnmen appear tn be singing, i j. I::@ the Cul ina andMalisige?nka wnmerl of the Peruvian Clmazon who cal l out the spi~".itr;of the f orest wi ,kt1 their- singing .to as!;i .jk the shami?n tjr.~r:i.nghc?aling r-:i.'tuiilr,.Most important1 y, the j.ndividua1 sl'inwn havingI:sex wi.,kh the woman wears .the jag~~ar headdress and snaL::es hangfro111 his waist.In the f irs'lz picture the indivitli.1~11 lonks hr.rmanbut in the ,follc~wing two it rnay well he the Fanged Deity hi.msc?l,f:at the center 04:the scene(or the shaman fully transformr?cl intothe Fanged Deity).In a part.ie~.~larly am1.1sirig pierre 04Plochc? art,the pappy who accompanies the Fanged Deity has se:.: with a willir~gwo,nari (Fi gnre 69) . This i rnage s~lppnrt the contenti on that pr.rppiesimcl irltercourse are both rmlated to sham~~ni.:sm - siinul. tariern.~sl y at* ..that!The 1::)el I. i:!f ,that semen ha% drs zihamani c power has Qrna;:nr~i ans~lppnrt. Dori, the word for power in Cc~lina society rnay be lostby the novice during coi,ku.i, thus celibacy is maintained (F'ol1ncl.c1Yc?2;28).The Uesnna speak of the supreme deity's power to