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Shamans, Supernaturals & Animal Spirits: Mythic Figures From the Ancient Andes

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245<br />

Votive Figure (left)<br />

Monkey<br />

North or Central Coast culture<br />

AD 1100-1476<br />

Camelid wool; cross-knit looping<br />

2½" high<br />

Monkeys have magical and supernatural connotations in Andean<br />

iconography. Many human figures (especially shamans and<br />

supernaturals) borrow <strong>the</strong> simian’s most conspicuous features (brow, eyes,<br />

feet, tail), and monkeys also serve as stand-ins for trophy headhunters and<br />

ritualists.<br />

This miniscule representation of a spider or woolly monkey eating fruit<br />

is quite realistic, on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, capturing <strong>the</strong> lanky physique and<br />

prehensile tail of <strong>the</strong> species with charming accuracy.<br />

222

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