An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Sacrificer Container770–890 (radiocarbon date, 95% probability)
This container assumes the shape of a magnificent, feline-headed, supernatural sacrificer who draws a knife across the throat of the human it holds in its lap. Severed human heads hang from the feline's belt and dangle by the trachea at the back of its headdress. Sacrifice had a place in Wari religious practice, probably as an unusual and exceptionally precious offering made to entice the benevolence of cosmic forces. Indeed, colonial-period Andean people believed that death was a prerequisite for the renewal of the world.
Traces of cinnabar, a toxic mercuric sulfide, are visible on the container's surface.
wood and cinnabar
Overall: 10.8 x 7 x 7.5 cm (4 1/4 x 2 3/4 x 2 15/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In a realm where mysticism intertwines with reality, one finds a striking figure—a container that captivates and disturbs in equal measure. Its form transforms into a magnificent creature, with the proud head of a feline, exuding both grace and power. The creature, a supernatural sacrificer, cradles a human in its lap, the tension palpable in the air as its knife glints ominously under the soft flicker of light.
Hanging from its belt are severed human heads, each bearing witness to untold stories and silent pleas, their lifeless eyes forever fixed on eternity. They dangle like grim ornaments, depending from the tracheas behind the headdress, a chilling display of sacrifice and devotion woven into the fabric of ancient lore.
In the winding pathways of Wari religious practice, sacrifice was held in high esteem; it pulsated like a heartbeat through their beliefs. To the Andean people of the colonial period, the act of offering was not merely a ritual, but a profound gesture of hope—a bridge to the cosmos. To them, death was not the end; it was the catalyst for renewal, a necessary passageway toward rebirth.
In this intricate dance between mortality and divinity, the sacrificer embodies the weight of existence and the yearning for connection with the forces that govern life itself. With each cut of the knife, it beckons the cosmos, pleading for favor and nurturing in a world fraught with uncertainty—a timeless testament to humanity's quest for meaning amidst the chaos.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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