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The Presentation Theme

A Moche Ceramic Vessel

Clifford C. Richey
February 2010
Revised
March 2010
Revised
August 2010

Illustration Credit: Drawing by Donna McClelland

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Illustration 1: Total Form, A Container Illustration 2: Sub-Forms

Th Total Form of the vessel upon which the Presentation Theme was painted is that of a container. Its
Sub-Forms are a place sign (brown). A Double Lined (unseen) kernel or Seed sign (yellow), Due to its
relative size the Seed (perhaps a kernel of corn) could be considered the Great Seed. The Bottom of the
Vessel (blue) is in the Form of a Large Location/Number sign. The location, the Great One.

The Container, the place of the unseen seed, the location, the great one.

Illustration 3: The Scene or Motif

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Illustration 4: Foreshortened Serpent band

The Motif of the composition is divided horizontally in half by the Figure of a Large, two headed,
Serpent. The Serpent is the sign for a stream of water such as a river. The Fox heads on the Serpent are
the association for something very clever or wondrous. The general meaning would be something like
the wondrous serpent. The Straight Line of the Serpent's back provides the surface for the Figures in
the Scene or Motif to stand upon.

Illustration 5: Mountain With Mouth

Beneath the line is a series of signs for mountainside (green). The sign for mountain would be two of
these signs pieced together back to back (without a middle line). Within the peak-sign is the imagery of
a mouth (red), a water-source. Thus there are a multitude of mountainsides with water sources on them.
Such water sources could be springs, pools, water seepage etc. It was the Serpents of the Underworld,
the artesian streams which provided the water for these sources.

The Head of the Fox was composed of signs providing additional details regard the wonder. The large
Eye is the sign for a hole-in -the-surface (ground). The Ear of the Serpent is the sign for held-in or
held-down depending one the sign's stance or positioning. Beneath this sign is a, brown, sign (derived
from the head of the phallus) that means, male-spirit (note the little circular location sign hanging from
the male-spirit into the band meaning, location-on-the-side). The next sign below it (the cheeks of the
Serpent) is not clear but may indicate flowing. The edge of the mouth (brown) is the Double Lined
(unseen) sign of a Long, Turning Leg and Foot, the unseen-long-turning- walk or journey-upwards
(upwards determined by the foot's position). Another, smaller, Leg and Foot make up the Nostril of the
Serpent. The Nostril is, of course, a type of hole. This Leg and Foot means, a long-journey-on-the-side
(of the earth, the side is derived by the positioning of the foot). The Mouth of the Serpent is, of course,
a water-source. The meaning of the other Serpent Head on the left is similar. The lines between the
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two bands of the Serpent's Body created by the lower edge of the upper band and the upper edge of the
lower band create the Double Lined sign for, unseen. It appears to have a series, rather crudely drawn,
water droplets across it. The exact meaning of the droplet is not known at this time. It occurs in
numerous ancient compositions and across many cultures. It obviously has a connection with water but
whether it is just another sign for water or provides some other, finer, distinction related to water is not
known.

Attached to this band of water-droplets are Arms and Paws that are holding a dark mountain-peak sign.
If one looks at the Paws positioning relative to the Serpent's mouth it can be seen that it is the gesture
sign for eating. The Circles within the Arm are the signs for moisture and some of these small circles
are in the form of the Triangular female sign. Therefore the meaning is along the lines of a trail of
female moisture spirits. The Paw has the undulating sign for movement just below it Claws. The
Double Lined Claws Form the signs (there claws meaning many) for unseen-ascension. The Teeth of
the Serpent's Mouth do not actually touch the dark mount-peak sign so it is unlikely that it is the peak
that is being eaten. It is more likely that it is the moisture that is being eaten. However it is not the
Serpent that is eating the moisture as it would be illogical to think in terms of a stream eating water.
No, the Arm and Paw represent the Hand of Jaguar, the nighttime phase of the Sun. The Sun was
considered to feed upon moisture as it was known that water evaporated by the Sun's Action. The
Jaguar represented the one who hunted at night (hunting for moisture) just as the Eagle represented the
one who hunted in the daytime.

The Teeth of the Serpent (of course serpents do not have teeth, they have fangs but these teeth represent
words, not reality) are the signs for held-in and the Form found between the Teeth is one of the zigzag
sign for water.

The Serpent band, as we shall see, pretty well sums up the basic idea behind the overall motif of the
composition. It tells us the reasoning behind the importance of mountains in the Moche cosmology and
culture. It was the artesian water rising to form springs and pools that were viewed as portals between
the earth's surface and the underworld. Then the Sun played an important role in taking up this water to
the sky. This transaction was based on a knowledge of the water cycle and was overlaid with
cosmological meaning.
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Illustration 6: The Storm

The Face and Tail of this Figure appears to be that of a Monkey. As we have seen in a previous paper,
the Nazca Desert Figure, The Spider Monkey Figure the Monkey Imagery was used as an Association
for the word storm. The desert figure was also depicted as placing water into the earth. Also we can
guess, by the Figure's behavior, that it represents a Storm. The Monkey's Bird Feet indicate that its
walking movement is by flight. The Tail is in the form of a Crooked Staff and means takes or brings
downward (position of pulling downward). This is quite similar to the Nazca use of the Tail except
that it showed a higher number of levels. Within the Tail we see the Droplet signs indicating moisture
or rain. The hem of the Shirt connects to the Tail and it is the sign for water. The Tail and the Shirt
combine to present the Form of a Serpent (representing a stream). The Head of the Serpent was created
out of a multitude of house signs showing a dark location or hole within them. These hole-houses
probably relate to the many houses of the Serpent and its holes in the earth's surface. It is here where it
rises up to bring water to the surface.

The Hand of the Figure forms the Mouth (a water-source) of the Serpent. The object in the hand is
bowl like in shape. The left Arm of the Storm has a Black Rectangle (dark-place) sign followed by the
(yellow) earth-female sign. From this Figure we understand the Storm is placing water, in the form
spilled water (from the bowl) as rain, falling to the earth's surface.

There is a large hole sign (black and white) that Forms the Eye of the Serpent. There are place signs
(yellow) that created the imagery of a Bird's Head. Stemming from the Mouth of the Bird is a Cord (in
the Form for ascending) that connects to a Knife (golden color) which is the sign for a Ray of the Sun,
a warrior. The Knife appears to be ascending from the hole while the Storm appears to look at it.

The Whiskers on the Monkey's Chin are three place signs meaning, many places (of the warrior's
ascension). Around the Monkey's Lips is some stubble which are the signs for moisture. The Monkey's
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Mouth is, of course, a water-source and there is a dark sign that is pointing into the Mouth. The space
between the Teeth (held- in signs) is one of the zig-zag water sign (blue) that ends in a Leg and Foot (a
long water journey).

The Monkey's Head is tilted back and there is a side sign (green) on its head. Here we find a multitude
of house signs and a dark sign that we have tentatively identified as dark-sky-arc. This seems to be a
compound sign made up of curved ascending signs connecting the sky-arc. There is only a slight
difference between this sign and the sign for a Great Tumi Knife (a great ray of the Sun –a leader).
There is a tiny vertical-place sign (white) at the base of the sky-arc sign. Also we find the Head of a
Bird (flight) and the male-spirit sign (both light blue), The place of the flight of the male-spirit –the
sky-arc. The Eye imagery appears to have been reserved to indicate the Eye of the Sun or Venus in
these cosmological compositions. In this case the Eye is in the form of a Sitting Bird (meaning,
awaiting flight) and is surrounded by darkness. Behind the Tail of the Bird is a small location sign next
to the hole sign. Below is a generalized translation of meaning o f the Monkey Figure and it details.

The Storm arrives flying. His dark face, on the side of the earth, appears. He brings down moisture
from above, the rain. He places water into the Earth-female, the many holes of the artesian streams. He
puts water into the spring, the hole, from which the Ray of the Sun, the warrior, ascends in flight. The
flight of the male-spirit to the sky-arc. Venus awaits its flight in the darkness.

Illustration 7: Water Placed Into The Earth

Here we find earth-female, her Face darkened by the storm Sitting passively (waiting) with her hands
tied (like a captive) The idea presented is the unmoving earth awaiting the rain-storm. We see that the
Serpent (light blue) is touching the earth's Nose (dual orifices that contain water). The body of the
Serpent is created in the form of the undulating sign for movement or motion. The body of the Serpent
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(a stream of water) is broken up into signs for water droplets, female-earth signs and place signs. On
the back of the Serpent is one straight line indication on the surface. Next to it is the gateway or portal
sign (two lines with the line of the Serpent's back serving as the third line). Earth-female's Hair is the
sign for flowing and is in the Form for ascending. The ascending flow of the stream. Surrounded by
darkness we have The Eye, Venus.

At Earth-female's neck we have two place signs and this coupled with the Triangular earth-female sign
we have the wording for, earth-female-places. Along with the Eye we also have the Hand as holding a
reserved cosmological meaning, The Hand(s) of the Sun or the Steward(s) of the Sun. These Hands are
tied together or bound by place signs. Bound together the places of the Hands, the stewards of the Sun
--below (the line below the Hand). The left leg is the sing for turning while the right knee may be a
compound of place and dark-side (of the earth). Below is a bare Foot meaning unsafe or dangerous-
location-place-female. Here we have the literal statement about a storm placing water into the earth
along with a parallel metaphorical statement about the spirits of the Stewards of the Sun being held
within the dark earth.

Earth-female waits, passively, like a bound captive as the Storm places water into her dark places. The
stream on her dark face flows. The Hands, the Stewards of the Sun tied together within the earth. The
place of the gateway, the portal. The hillside, the place, the dark side. The Hand turning-female on the
side. The places-surrounded by darkness of the female-earth.. The Eye of the Sun, Venus, covered in a
dark location.

Illustration 8: The Warrior, The Great Male Illustration 9: The Great Male, Turning Female
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The overall depiction or Imagery of a Shield and, perhaps, Weapons seems to be representative of a
warrior. The Great Male (male genitals)-below, on the side of the Breast (positional), hillside, the hole-
in-the -surface, The water-droplets (moisture) around the hole. The Great Male-below (brown) turning-
female (yellow), the male-spirit (blue)

The Storm, His Face, his appearance on the surface of the earth-sinking-into it- (positional). The side-
place (red rectangle with indented or sloped sides) The unseen gateway (sign on Chin) or portal to the
dark-earth-female (yellow Triangle)-on the side. The Bird Head, flight-held-down (yellow Angle sign)
The (3) many water-droplets (blue). The Form of the Planting Stick is the “T” sign for, below-the-
surface, The Five (two locations on each side and one location in the center) appears also to be a
count but its meaning is not known. The Eye (Venus) is held down (yellow, angular sign). A dark Finger
pointing a direction, here and touching the Triangular (yellow) earth-female sign surrounded-by-
darkness. Venus is held-down in the earth-female, surrounded-by-darkness.

The Planting Tool (the one that penetrates the earth-female), the Mouth, the water-source, the rain,
enters into it, penetrates (or percolates) below the surface.

The Unseen pathway the dark house of the earth-female –her domain. Held- in, the hole-in the earth.
The side-place, the droplets, the water or moisture. Below Penetrates into the darkness below. (tip of
the planter red and black) on the sides (positional), the places (white rectangles), of the water-droplets
(blue).

The two objects (Spears?) on the side of the Breast (hill) have places in the darkness on them. What
these two signs represent is unknown. Their Stance or Position is one of waiting.

The general idea expressed by this section composition is about the Warrior. The Storm on the surface
of the earth sinks into it, penetrates the earth. The rain enters into the water-source. Below the great
male is turning female below the hillside (becomes part of the female domain). Venus remains within
darkness of the earth.
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Illustration 10: Planting (Penetrating Into) In The Earth, The Sowing of Seeds

He arrives, (stance of legs and feet) the planter of the seeds. The Planting Stick or Penetrating Tool
(red), the one that plants. The top of the penetrating-stick is made up of four vertical-places-
everywhere signs and a horizontal-place sign that has Four Circular location signs on it (meaning
locations-places-the four-directions or everywhere). The Stick runs down through the Figure forming
the “T” sign (below the surface). The position of the end of the stick below and between the Figure's
legs make it certain that the planting (or penetrator) stick was considered male. The Figures clothes has
dark seeds on the right side (West, the setting Sun) and light seeds on the left side (East, the rising
Sun). The Eye or Venus is still surrounded in darkness and to the left of the Eye are two Fingers
together meaning the twins or the two united as one. This seems to relate to Venus appearing in the East
and West (appearing as two but actually being one and the same). Stemming from the united sign are
two long place signs in the form of the sign for ascension. Again, this also seems to relate to the two
risings of Venus.

The clothing also is in the form of a Bird's head (color, blue) meaning flight. The remaining Square
signs indicate houses of the east and west. Below the hem of the Figure's shirt is a Serpent (a stream of
artesian water). The Body of the Serpent is composed four place signs (everywhere), a female-earth
sign and a Leg-Foot sign meaning a long journey. The Eye is a location sign next to a place sign and
also touches the Leg and a turning-female sign ( having joined the female domain). The Ear is made
from the held-down sign. Thus the total meaning is, the stream below, held-down in the location, the
place of long journey in the female-earth places everywhere. The location of turning female (in effect,
the male-spirit while within the domain of female-earth also turns-female). The Ear of the Serpent
(held-down) touches the place of ascending water droplets (light blue) which merges with a similar
(white) ascension of seeds (read spirits).
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Illustration 11: The Large Finger

Pointing To The Location

The left Arm of the Figure is placing his Hand into the earth-female's bosom. Earth-female sits,
waiting (positional) like a captive (hands tied) passively, for the seeds to be planted in her. Note that
this elongated Arm is actually a large Severed Finger pointing to a location (here). Above the Arm is
are the signs (yellow) for place (Rectangle) or domain (Square) as it is difficult to tell the exact shape
of this small sign. The large (yellow) Triangle is the sign for earth-female. So we follow the Finger
Form back to the figure's shoulder where we find a place sign (white) with a ”V” notch in it meaning a
place-opening. In the notch is an upside down leg and Foot indicating a death-walk or journey. This
sign is dual and it also forms the Head of a Bird so that in another reading from another direction this
would indicate, a flight-from-an-opening. In this case it is the seeds (gray-brown) within the place that
are on the death-walk. The Seeds being a metaphor for the deceased. The Hand below that holds the
Form of a Bowl (a place-that-contains) is another Finger (brown) the Nail (white) of which is a
surface-place sign. Below the Finger is a place sign (light brown)

Illustration 12: The Dark Female-Place

The Arm also has a dark-place (black) sign on it and the forearm is a place sign. Above the Arm, at the
neck of the Figure is the earth-female sign (yellow). Combined these signs means the Arm is putting
something into a female-place, deep and dark (black Rectangle) within (or under the clothing of) the
earth. It is possible that the extended Arm or severed Finger also was made in this manner to create the
Form of a Bird's in a Sitting Position (awaiting-flight) combined with that of a Hand (the Steward of
the Sun).
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Illustration 13: Sitting-Bird

Illustration 14: The Hand

While in both cases of the For we cannot be sure that these details were intentional. However the
elongate Arm/Finger does make the sign for held-down.

Illustration 15: The Face

Of The Earth

Moving to Earth-female's Face, her appearance –the face of the earth. We note that above the female
sign (yellow) is a dark sign that seems to be in the Form of a container of some sort. The Eye (Venus)
may also be the sign for a hole and there is an opening (portal) at the corner of the Eye. The Mouth (a
water-source) of the Figure has the Upper Lip making the sign for ascending. Ascending from the
water-source. The Figure's Nose is in the form of the Crook that means, taken or brought upwards
which then touches the hair made from the flowing sign. The flowing sign is in the Form of the sign for,
ascending.

Above the Hair is the Serpent whose Tail (yellow) is the sign for earth -female. The Form of the
Serpent is the one for moving or movement. The Middle of the Serpent is a large turning sign
surrounded by a number of place signs. The Head has a male-spirit sign (brown) with a Finger pointing
a direction, here. This sign is the lower jaw of the Mouth, the water-source. There are three place signs
around the male-spirit sign indicating many places of the male spirit. The objects that appear to be
flying around the Figures may either be feathers (flight) or the type of seeds that when released from
the tree spin like helicopters (flying) as they fall to earth or are blown by the wind. Perhaps these
objects represent both feathers and seeds (feather-seeds-water-droplets), flying-seed-spirits-water-
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spirits). In any case they would have been associated with flight.

The planting or sowing of the “seeds” can be understood on two levels. The first as a real agricultural
event and secondly as a metaphor related to the burial the deceased in the earth. The seeds in this case
are the bodies and their spirits later become captured within water droplets that fly upward though the
action of the Sun (although the Sun's involvement is not made clear until we come to the Transaction or
Communion section of the composition. The streams of the mountain side are held down but the
water-droplets from the streams rise upwards to the sky. Throughout the motif there is an underlying
theme related to the position of Venus that is somehow connected to the thematic events as they occur.

Illustration 16:The Communion, The Mutual Sharing

Central to the Transaction Scene is the two Figures with the one on the left handing the cup or goblet to
the one on the right. (or, at least both joining in the holding of the cup). Beneath this transaction is the
Imagery of a Dog (meaning, the prophecy. Both figures wear Helmets that are the sign for a mountain-
peak. The Figure on the left right Arm and Hand are touching a Large Knife. The meaning is that the
Arm, the warrior, the Great Knife, the great ray of the Sun. The male-spirit-place The male-spirit sign
(brown) is on his upper arm with the white place sign above it.

There are Seven Serpents emanating from this Figure. The first Three Serpents (the many streams)
signs on the left are first, covered on the sides,the hole, the opening in the surface. The Second
Serpent's Head reads, the location of the portal. The Third Serpent's Head reads, turning-arising-on-
the-side. On the right side of the mountain peak there are Four more Serpents. The Tongues of the three
lower Serpents appears to be the sign for opening -up-surface. The Serpent Ears mean, held-in-on the
sides. The signs internal to the Heads of the first three Serpents reads(from the lowest upward),
location, all, on the sides. The topmost Serpent has no internal signs in its Head but its Form is that of
an opening sign. The reason for the triangular and extended shape of these Serpents is not understood.
It is possible that the triangular shape may be large angular held-down-on-the-side signs. The extended
Form may be related to the arising sign. Arising upward yet held or fixed to the earth's surface. The
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lower Serpents on the left are based in darkness while the topmost one is based in place-female-earth
signs. The first two, lowest, Serpents on the right are based in, place-many-locations. The third Serpent
is base in two place signs that are in the Form for an opening with a compound, female-earth-spirit
sign internal to it. The topmost Serpent is based in the earth-female sign. Generally, it would appear
that these Serpent signs speak to moisture arising from the streams which on a cold mountain peak
might form mist or low lying clouds.

On the left we see that a connection that was made between the Hand and the Great Knife (the
steward, the great ray of the Sun) and the imagery of a Kingfisher like Bird (light blue) on the Figure's
Chest. The association that comes to mind with a Kingfisher is that it dives into the water and brings
up a Fish.. The Fish is the sign for the one that swims, a swimmer. At the Kingfisher's Bill or Mouth we
note the small (white) Form of a Bird made up of signs for, places, the-male-spirit, the-ascension-place
or something quite similar to that. The Bird Form is at the water-source meaning flight from the water-
source. The Bird's Eye means, turning-unseen, in-the-moisture (small circles) a dark-location below-
the surface-place. There are two long triangles with place signs above them which would seem to
indicate, places-below (the Mouth line). The Bird's body was created from unseen signs and a small
place sign. The internal signs are a female-spirit (the triangle of circles) sign and water droplets, a
water-spirit.

Within the dark Face (his appearance in the darkness) of the Serpent Figure we see the form of an Eye.
The Eye of the Sun (Venus) is surrounded by darkness. The Mouth here is created from two fingers
making the gesture sign for, little (Venus is small compared to the Sun). Within the Mouth (blue) is the
form of a Leg and Foot that is also nearly a water sign. The Teeth (white) are held-down signs. Thus the
meaning is something like, the little one, held-down within the water-source, a long watery journey.
Above this there is a dark locational sign compounded with the Nose Form (watery orifices) there is
the Form of a dark lipped Mouth, there is, perhaps, a place sign within the Mouth but it is difficult to
see because of the resolution of the drawing. In any event, it seems that an additional mouth had to be
added here and one can only speculate that this was due to Venus using two holes on the side of the
earth because of it appearance on both the Eastern and Western horizons.

The Serpent Figure represents the streams fixed to the land but able to give off water in the form of
droplets. Aside from evaporation, these ascending droplets may relate to mist rising up on the cold
sides of the mountain peaks. The one who dives into the water to capture a fish (the Fish, the one who
swims, the swimmer, probably refers to the water-spirits of the deceased caught up in the artesian
streams). The One who takes the water-spirits in flight (as water-droplets) upward, ascending from the
water-source. This probably explains the reason for the Serpents having been drawn as large held-
down signs with their internal moisture and water-droplet signs shown in the Form of arising on the
side of the mountain peak.
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We now turn our attention to the other Figure in the transaction, The Eagle (the daytime Sun). On the
Chest of the Eagle there is a rough Form that appears to be that of a Frog (light green). If the Circle is
considered part of the Form then it might be a depiction of a Frog thrusting out its throat in the act of
croaking. Frogs tend to appear in large numbers after a rain croaking to attract mates. The association
for a Frog is, the one who leaps. Within the Frog imagery is the Eye (Venus), a hill sign and to the right
and below is a Long Leg (long) and Foot (journey). On the upper left hand side of the Eye are two
locational Circles. Meaning locations on the side of the hill. Stemming from the Frog's Foot is the
ascending sign and attached to the Leg's lower edge is the doorway or portal sign.

From around the Frog's Eye (a hill sign s viewed from above)and moving up the side of the mountain
peak are the signs for moisture. The Form's internal signs also seem to reinforce the idea the Form is of
a Frog. The Great Leaper, The One who leaps upwards on the mountain side. The moisture rises up to
the earth-female ( yellow) sign then a vertical place sign (white) to the dark- sky-arc. The sky sign
seems to have been composed of two ascending signs (the edges) that support the Curved sky-arc sign.
The Eye of the Eagle, the Eye of the Sun, Venus is no longer surrounded by darkness . There are, white,
motion signs around the Eye and the Upper beak is in the Form for ascending ending in the dark tip of
the Beak. Venus ascending in the darkness.

The Large Circle Large Circle means, the Great-One (relative size of the sign). The Arm, the warrior,
the Hand of the Sun, the steward of the Sun. The Circle is also a location sign. We also note the small
location sign attached to the the larger one meaning a location on the side (of the earth).

The Lower Beak of the Eagle is in the form of a Black Fish, the one swimming in the darkness). The
projection on the Fish's Head is another ascending sign. The internal signs appear to be a place sign,
Leg and Foot Form (long journey), and a Square house sign. The one who swims in the darkness, on
the dark-side. (The black half circle or side sign just above the place sign). The place of the long
journey, the dark domain of earth-female. The one ascending.
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In the Eagle Figure we see how the details complement the details of the Serpent Figure. The moisture
leaping, frog like, upward on the side of the mountain peak. In the case of the Eagle, the daytime Sun
we are talking about evaporation taking the water-droplets to the sky. The Communion between the
Serpents and the Eagle is their shared endeavor in getting the water-droplets to the sky along with the
spirits the droplets contain. Venus begins it ascent into the darkness.

The Communion Scene appears to be the most significant of the events in the total composition or
motif. Beneath the mutual sharing of the goblet or cup is the Imagery of a Dog. This Associational
Imagery represented the concept of a prophecy. The Dog was viewed as one who could predict danger
or other upcoming events before they were recognized by man. The Dog's sensitive ears and nose
picked up cues that man's senses could not. The Tail of the Dog is in the Form of the sign for
ascending thus, the prophecy of the ascension.

We have not translated every subtle detail of this composition such as the left Figure's dark right Foot
(the journey in the darkness) having a Toenail (place) touching the Dog's male glands (male-spirit
signs). Partly because they do not significantly add to our understanding of the composition's meaning
and partly because not every sign is recognized or understood. Some details may be so subtle that they
escape our attention completely. Sometime signs are compounded in unique ways that make the
meaning difficult to discern. We have, however, been able to translate most of the main features of this
composition.

So far, we have learned that the Figures represent Mountain Streams, the Sun, the Earth, a Storm,
Planting, a kingfisher, and a a Frog. The Figures appear to also represent events or behavioral action
as much as their individual qualities. Individuals properly costumed could easily role play this
cosmological message.
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Illustration 17: Warriors Descending Into The Water-Source

The Figure on the left appears to be holding a Shield (green) and a Mace (red) as well as some other
unknown implements. The tip of his Helmet has an Up Ended above-earth-female sign (yellow) with a
white place sign beneath it. When the flat side of the Triangle is on top it represents the earth and its
surface, but when the pointed part is on top it represents the earth and that which is above it. Below the
earth-female sign is the Square house or domain sign followed by three (many) hole-house signs (like
so many serpent holes in the earth). Above the Helmet and the Mace (the Top of the mace is a place
sign and an upended earth-female sign meaning above the earth) appear to have what looks like Deer
Tracks above them.

The meaning of the Deer imagery in Moche and other compositions has not yet been determined but
from what is known of its context so far it appears that the Deer represented a migrant or a wanderer. In
many scenes the Deer is viewed as the hunted and seems to have been victimized. Deer, of course,
could also have been perceived as somewhat of an enemy, by an agriculturally focused culture, because
Deer tend to wander around eating whatever crops they might come upon. The same might be said of
“foreign” warriors (Deer Warriors) wandering about seeking new territory or opportunistic gain. The
Deer Tracks above the earth (in the sky) might represent the stars wandering through the heavens.

The Figure's Mouth (a water-source) was drawn as the Form of a Serpent (light blue) and its Head in
the form of a hillside sign as viewed from the side. The water-source-the hillside-stream. The Teeth are
created from one Triangular earth-female sign and two location signs within the darkness. The is also a
smaller upper Tooth with what may be an indistinct place sign.

Location-turning signs are at the Figures temple. These and the Eye (Venus) Form are in darkness. The
Eye sign is composed of a Hand (white) grasping (held) a dark locational sign (in-a-dark-location).
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What looks like a Flap on the back of the Helmet is composed of turning-locations-place signs and the
Form is one of a dark-under-half or underworld sign. The Dark Leg and Foot (a long dark journey) is
in the position of ascending the side of the mountain peak.
The Figure is holding what appears to be a Shield and a Club or Mace (red) which is an Arm therefore
a sign of a warrior. Moche compositions often show scenes with the Mace in use as a weapon in
combat.

Only three signs were chosen to be included within the unseen (Double Lines (white) -on-the-sides
(yellow). A place sign with two house or domain signs below it. The Breast or hill sign (green) has
signs within it that mean, the hill with moisture around it.

Below the Shield is the end of the handle of the Mace (red) on the right is a place sign (position, below)
modified into a Leg and Foot (the journey-below) that has what appears to be the all sign, a place sign
and a Hand Image whose signs present the gateway or portal sign. All of these signs touch upon the
Triangular female-earth sign (yellow). The Figure's right Arm touches the Shield and next to it are the
small (white) place-earth-female signs.
 Page 19

Illustration 18: The Warrior Arriving At The Hole

The Figure's right Leg (a long) and Foot (journey-in-the-darkness) has the earth-female sign (yellow)
and the water-drop sign (blue) within it. The Foot is touching a Hand (The Hand of the Sun) while the
Toe makes up a locational sign. The Hand touches the Large Eye of the Serpent which is a sign for a
hole in the earth's surface. The idea expressed here is one of, the warrior going on a watery journey
within the dark earth-female.

The Figure's right hand is making a sign indicating, into the Mouth (the water-source. The small, white,
signs mean, a female-place-on the side. The Lip of the Figure's Mouth (light blue) is in the possible
Form of a Whale (the great diver). The Form also is the gesture sign for, go under or dive. With in the
sign are female-moisture-spirits. This Figure's Face, his appearance appears to be the same or similar
to that of the Storm so it may be that it was considered the Storm that caused the spirits of the deceased
to dive down into the water-source.

Above the Mouth is the Form of a Skull (indicating death). The Eyes (see or look) are within an Upside
Down Foot sign that means, the walk or journey of the dead. The Top of the Skull is the sign for
covered. The Mouth of the Skull is created from the Eye sign (the Eye of the Sun, Venus) that can be
further broken down into the Form of a Hand Grasping (held-in) a dark-location sign. The white sign
above the Skull may be a Knife (ray-of-the-sun) sign although it s shape is a bit vague.

Next to the Skull is a Dark Triangular (earth-female) sign with the Double Lined meaning, unseen, with
the gateway or portal sign within the double lines.
 Page 20

Beneath the Upside Down Foot's Ankle is the hole-in-the surface sign with a finger point the direction
(below) and four locational signs indicating, locations-everywhere.

The Figure's helmet is dark on the right side and there are nine house or domain signs forming levels
on the mountain peak's side (meaning the western side where the Sun descends) The number six
(location and number signs) runs alongside the domain signs. The meaning of these numbers are
unknown.

At the bottom of the dark side of the mountain peak we find the place sign (yellow) and the male-spirit
sign (brown). There is a short line from the place sign to one of the locational signs meaning, location-
place. Within are two dark-location signs. The location place of the male-spirit-it dark locations.

The Figure's Left hand is holding a Sack (white) and the sack appears to be in the Form of a Hand
(perhaps indicating the the Hand is within the Sack). The Arm and Hand of the Figure has a dark-place
sign at the wrist while the Form of the Hand appears to mimic the Form of the Sack.

From the bottom of the Sack there is a sign in the Form of descending (white) with the three locational
signs (for, the many), a place sign (yellow) followed by a male-spirit (brown) sign. These signs are
attached or touching the dark-place sign that also is part of the next Figure's composition.

The signs related to the top of the Helmet are (yellow) a place and a earth-female sign. This means. a
place above the earth-female. Next we find a white, vertical place, sign that seems to be the base for a
larger dark Knife sign. These dark Forms on top the the Warrior's Helmets seem at times to be the sign
 Page 21

for the sky-arc while at other times they appear more Knife (ray of the Sun) like in shape.
There seems to be little doubt that this section of the total composition is one about the death of
warriors, the dive of their spirits, into the water-source of the underworld. There were, apparently nine
levels to the dark side of the mountain peak which seems to be similar to many Native American
cultures that assign this number of levels to the underworld. In the Litter portion of the larger
composition we see that the area under the mountain was viewed as the under-side or the underworld.

Illustration 19: The One That Holds The Cup

The Figure is this illustration has the Form (light blue) Large Bird Head (the great flight, great due to
the Form's relative size) as clothing. The Beak of the Bird would appear to be that of a Hawk but we do
not know the meaning of the association. The Bird's Head is nearly divided into two halves by a
location-vertical-place sign (yellow). The left half contains the signs for moisture-spirits (see the blue
triangular female sign). There are twelve of these moisture-spirits. The right half contains some
dark,unknown, Forms. There are also twelve of these Forms.

On the Left side starting at the top of the Bird's Head (bright blue) is the Form of a male-spirit with
internal signs meaning location, place, held-as-in-a -bowl. This is followed by four place signs
(everywhere or all over). These four place signs rest upon the Bird's upper Beak line (the surface). The
Serpents (with Fox heads, the wonder-streams) stem from the surface line that is made from the Bird s
lower Beak. The Beaks meaning the water-source. The Serpents are thus positioned below the surface.
There are two locational-moisture signs between the Double Lines of that make up the beak meaning,
unseen-locations-moisture. The Serpents are further made up of place signs while their Eyes (black
and white) are signs for holes-in the (earth's) surface. The triangular Tongues with a Line in the Center
have meaning that is unknown. The Serpent's Mouths indicate water-sources.
 Page 22

On the Right side there are dark Serpents emanating from two Water Droplet signs. The Upper Serpent
has a place sign (yellow) in the center of its Form, a place surrounded in Darkness. These Serpent
seem to have turning signs around their Mouths (water-sources). Th upper Serpent has a surface sign at
its Mouth thus placing the water-source at the earth's surface. These Serpents of Wonder are positioned
so the move downward, over-the-side (the Bird's Head may also be a hill sign. This downward
movement of water has it parallel above, on the Figure's Head, where the right (zigzag, blue) water sign
is arising over the edge of a place (white) sign. The places sign has the number four (all-over) signs
with in it as does the water sign. Places with water arising over the side of the earth everywhere. The
upper water sign has the number 4 on it and the water is joined to the Triangular dark-female-earth
sign. The two water signs, together, present the number seven. Here we remember this same, total,
number as being associated with the seven serpents, seven streams.

Looking at the Figure's Face (his appearance – he appears) we see that the left (eastern) side is light
while the right (western) side is dark. The Eye (Venus) is partly out of the dark side and into the light.
To the left of the Eye we see the gateway or portal sign (yellow) next to the, black and white, hole sign.
The hole in the earth is the portal. On the left side we see that the Nose outline is in the Form of the
Crook (brings or takes) upward to a long narrow place sign positioned above it. We also remember the
the Nose is a dual orifice sources of water as the Mouth is a single source. From the Nose and Mouth
there is the nearly subliminal Form of a Bird (light blue) and below its right wing there is the ascending
sign (the black curved line). The Bird's Beak is touching the Nipple of the Breast (a hill) of the earth-
female. Within the hill sign is a locational-moisture sign with a line on its side (on-the-side). The goblet
in the Figure's hand is most likely a representation of the bowl or pool of water on the earth's surface
(the water-source). There seems to be some kind of motion sign at the rim of the goblet. Arising from is
our mystery sign the feather-seed-? This sign appears to be a water-drop facing upward and its stem a
(yellow) place sign. The internal line is the sign for ascension. So unlike the typical raindrop this water-
drop is flying upward. Thus the reversal of its usual form. There is another such sign touching the
Figure's Nose. So perhaps with what we have learned from the context of the signs here the feather-
 Page 23

seed-water-droplet ascends. The metaphorical meaning appears to be the flight of the seed (spirit)
within a water drop.

Finally we come to the Hands (the Hands of the Sun, the stewards of the Sun) The lower Arm-hand has
the dark-place sign on it and the thumbnail (yellow) is the sign for earth-female which is attached to
the dark-sides-place sign above it. The upper Hand also has the dark-place sign and appears to have the
movement (of some sort) sign stemming from it. This leads us back to the flying-water-droplet sign,

In this section of the composition we see that some kind of relationship is being made to the flight of
the water-droplets (containing warrior-spirits) and the appearance of Venus in the East. The Figure in
this composition seems to represent the Hillside Waters (thus female) and has something to do with the
timing of the rising of Venus on the eastern horizon.
 Page 24

Illustration 20: The One Who Walks Out Of The Water

Photo Credit: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen

The very large Form of a Mud-skipper on the clothing of this Figure indicates it is a “Great One” by the
relative size of the Form compared to the other Forms in the composition. The easily made association
 Page 25

with the Mud-skipper is that it is able to walk, on it fins, out of the water. This association was used,
metaphorically, to present the idea of the spirit of the deceased leaving the water. The Mud-skipper in
this Form is not Walking but rather Sitting (positional) on the zigzag (blue) water sign which means it
is waiting. The Arm (the warrior) and Hand (the steward of the Sun) are attached to the Mud-skipper
indicating they are the same.

The signs on the Arm are first a, white, place sign, then a dark-place sign, the Hand with the
Fingernails indicating, location-the-many-domains. The Thumbnail appears to mean a vertical-place or
above-place. On the side of the Hand are six locational signs one on top of the other in increasing size.
Because this is the Left hand it relates to the eastern horizon. The Form of this sign is the gesture sign
for arising (the meaning of the number six is not known). The Eye of the Mud-skipper is a hole-in-the-
surface sign. Mud-skippers live in holes in the mud where they take an air bubble with them in order to
breath, note the large number of hole-house signs on the Mud-skipper's Head. Around the Eye is a
Circle of moisture signs. Location-moisture.

The message is: The Great One who walks out of the water, sits on the water awaiting his, the Warrior-
Steward of the Sun, arising in the east to the many domains above.

Below the zigzag (blue) water line are the Figure's two Legs (long) and dark Feet and Toes (places)
(dark-journey-places). The long dark journey in places under the water. Both Knees have the hole-in
the surface signs (the holes in the surface of the earth). Next to the hole sign is our mysterious Feather-
Seed-Water-Drop sign. This may signify the flight of the water-drops from the hole-in-the-surface.
Within this sign is the sign for the flow or flowing.

The dark journeys in the dark places below, under, the water. The flight of seed-spirits, the water drops.
 Page 26

Behind the Mud-skipper's Eye (light green) is a Long Leg ending in a Foot (long-journey). The Foot is
made up of signs place-of -darkness and a Square house or domain sign. The long journey below in the
domain of darkness. Next to this is a similar Leg and Foot except that the Long Leg was created from
the Double Lined movement sign meaning, unseen-movement.

The long journey of unseen movement the domain, the place, in the darkness.

We will now move on to the face of the Figure. His Face, his appearance in the darkness. The Eye
(Venus) held-in-a location-dark (a Hand holding the dark location sign). The (light blue) Lips of the
Mouth (the water-source) with Circles of moisture-ascending) is in the form of a Serpent (a stream)
with the ascending sign on its head. The ascending-stream. With the Mouth (a water-source) is the
Form of a Fish (the swimmer). The Teeth are on-the-side(s) signs and also are the Eyes of the Fish
(light green). There is another but dark Mouth Form stemming from the Nose (a dual holes or a dual
water-source) in accordance with the two flights of Venus.

Venus, surrounded by darkness, held in a dark location, the swimmer on the sides, within the ascending
stream the water-source. The place of the dual holes, water-sources, of ascending-moisture.

On the back of the Figure's head is another long-journey sign (brown) that touches what appears to be a
gripping or grasping Hand sign (a possible dark Fish (swimmer) sign within the grasping Hand (the
steward of the Sun). Which then is connected to a place of ascension (a compound). Next there is a sign
that is Curved Form (ascending) and has five, white, place sign within it arranged as possible levels.
Beneath these levels is the Form of a leg and Foot (the long-journey) that terminates with place-earth-
female signs. There are eight locational/number signs on the outside of the Curve. The number eight
may indicate the levels that Venus ascends.
 Page 27

On the side (blue), the place of Ascension (gold), The many (the 3 locational/number Circles) Bats
taken up on the sides (the small Crooks below the Chin of the Bat). His Face, The Bat, his appearance,
moving upward (the undulating line that defines the mouth)- no or -not (a gesture sign1)

Venus, the steward of the Sun, His place-of-descent (gray). The five places. Descending in the
darkness to the earth-female place. The eight locations of descending on the side of the earth. (possibly
related to the nine levels of the underworld).

The actual Association for the Bat Imagery is not known but we have plenty from which to choose.
Bats come out of their caves at night in great numbers (the many). They appear to fly erratically as odd
fliers or even crazy as they fly in different directions catching insects by their sonar and acute hearing.
In this case the Bat appears as another association for Venus. Perhaps this is due to its changes in
direction because it appears both in the east and the west. In many native American cultures odd or
crazy behavior may have been viewed as one's being in contact with the spirits and was thus associated
with shaman or “medicine” men (medicine as defined in gesture sign as mysterious). Some Native
American cultures called themselves, People of the Bat and there may even have been Bat Clans. At
this point in time we only know that the Bat was used by the Moche as one association, among many,
for Venus.

1 Tomkins, William Indian Sign Language, New York, N.Y. 1969 p. 42-43.
 Page 28

Illustration 21: Mace Warrior

It is not known why this Warrior is smaller in size than the Figure to which it is connected. Sometimes
a trailing and smaller image may relate to a previous time period but there is not much evidence in this
composition's content that would indicate such a distinction. Smaller size may not always indicate
lesser importance as we can see in the total composition Venus as the Eye of the Sun is very important
yet thorough out the composition the Eye imagery is quite small. Even at the initial Imagery level of
the Figures one can hardly believe that the towering Figure related to the Serpents was more important
then the smaller Eagle, the Sun. It may be that the Figure's smaller size in relation to the overall
composition is because it was viewed an explanatory footnote and does not stand alone as a separate
message.

We can see that the Figure is based on Mace Imagery so he is probably a warrior. The central imagery
(the Warrior's Shield) is of a large Circle indicating the great one and a location (yellow.) within is the
Imagery of a Hand (the steward of the Sun). Attached to the Circle is an on-the-side-sign (yellow) and
an earth-female sign (yellow).

The Great One, The Steward of the Sun, his location on the side of the earth-female.

The Figure's Legs and feet present the usual, place-of-the-dark-journey but with the difference that the
right Foot is turned inward as if to say that that the Figure is not going in any direction. The right Hand
also attached to the Shield is holding what a Goblet or Cup (blue).
 Page 29

The Nose (the dual openings) of the Figure forms a straight surface line with the Goblet or Cup (the
Hand holds the Cup and the water-drop Form is its Stem. The Nose line has an opening sign in it (and
is part of the Mouth, the water-source) which also creates the Crook Form for, taking upward on it.
The the line moves upward to the long or stretched-out-place or the-plain sign. Upon the plain is the
Form of a Large Breast (earth-female's Breast or a hill). We can see the earth-female sign within the
Breast Form at the peak. Below it a place sign and below that five (?) vertical-places signs. Underneath
the plain is the Eye (Venus) surrounded by darkness. The Eye appears to be an unseen-turning (white)
sign. The Helmet Strap is a vertical-place sign while the Ear is a turning-unseen-dark-side sign. The
sign on the Chin is ambiguous. The sign at the neck appears to be a side-place sign that has broken
open has the number three (locational signs) inside it (the many). Also attached to the Shield is a
vertical-place sign that has a dark Upside Down (dead) Leg/Foot (long-walk or long-journey). We also
find the Phallus meaning male with the signs place-location-dark-below within it. Correcting, as much
as possible, for the non-linear organization of the composition we obtain the rather rough translation
below.

The warrior holding the shield and the goblet. The great one, the steward of the Sun, his location on
the side of the earth-female, the places below. The Steward that holds the goblet, the cup, the large
water-drop. His death walk on the side of the earth. The male in the dark place below.

Turning on the dark-side, unseen, his appearance, Venus, surrounded by darkness taken upward to the
plain, the hill that sits upon it. The female-place, the (5) vertical places. Taken upward from the source
of water, the dual-water sources upwards to the plain. The great hill. The side place its The male in the
place dark below many openings.
 Page 30

The motif here is one of a litter bearing a burden. A very heavy burden indeed as shown by the
sagging bottom of the litter. The Burden Bearers are the Serpent (the stream) and the Jaguar (the
nighttime Sun).

This section of the greater composition shows a mountainside (light blue) with water-droplets (blue)
within. The Double Lined (green ) outline of the mountainside means that the droplets are unseen, The
Rectangular base upon which the mountainside rests is a surface-place sign. Beneath it is the sign
(gray) for the under-half or underworld. Within it is the, white, Double Lined, unseen sign compounded
with the turning sign. Unseen-turning-below-(positional) in-the-underworld.

On either side of the Large Rectangular place (the stretched-out place or the plain) are two other
places or side-places (positional) signs attached to the Imagery of Serpent's Head (a stream) and a
Jaguar's Head (the nighttime Sun). Below these Animal Images is Imagery of a Human Head or Profile
Face (his appearance).

The Jaguar's Head is created out of signs Ear (on-the-side)then a small earth-female sign, a long
-female-earth-journey, then a Finger pointing the direction, downward. Turning-journey-upward-place
signs make up the lip of the Jaguar's Mouth (a water-source). There is a tiny spirit sign in the darkness
of the back of the Mouth. The Tongue appears to be a wood and opening sign i. e. a doorway. His Face,
his appearance, location, the Eye (Venus) in the darkness, a place-held down, covered (Nose) and
below-the-surface (lower lip has the “T” shape) taken (the Crook) to the dark-vertical- place (black
vertical Rectangle). The Upper part of the head is the sign for Dark upper world (position) below-it.
The other black sign in the compound of the Figure's hair is unknown.

The Serpent's Head is made up of signs meaning, held-down (Ear) in the flow (the lines on the side of
the Serpent's face), here- (a Finger pointing a direction) tunning (the Nose) in the darkness (the black
around the turning sign). -the hole (the Eye). There is an opening sign at the Mouth (the water-source).
Her Face (her appearance, as the Serpent is within the domain of the earth thus female). In-the-
darkness, (dark side of Face) the hole, (the Eye) the place-below (white signs). The place (Lip) of the
male-spirit (Chin)
 Page 31

Illustration 22: The Great Rattle (Shaker) Of The Seeds Arises

Sitting on the mountainside is a rather odd Image of what appears to be some kind of Creature. Closer
examination of its Form (see Illustration 16) shows it to be a possible old and worn Tumi Knife (a
warrior). The Upper Edge of the Knife is the sign for covered and within the Knife are several
seeds/spirits. The Warrior-spirits. On the Knife's Edge is the dark earth-female sign and a white place
sign. There is a line for ascending, from the earth-female's side and above it (positional). The Great
Rattle. This does not make much sense unless this object was a constellation arising over the horizon.
That perhaps initiated some event. There is also a Feather next to the Rattle which implies, flight. The
Imagery of the Rattle (Actual rattles in this form have been found in Moche burials) is made up of what
might be a distinctive knife Form, a chisel or a lever or spatula for digging. The Box that contains the
seeds or pebbles that make the rattling sound is in the form of vertical-place sign. What ever this
object represents the Knife form and the Box are shown as connected by a place-on-the side sign. It
seems that the actual rattling sound (shaking of the seeds) was not the main object but rather its
association with seeds that was important. Near the top of the mountainside is a very large male-spirit
sign and it seems to be facing upward, perhaps meaning, The Great Male-Spirit arising on the
mountainside.

At the very bottom of the mountainside there is a Finger (brown) pointing the direction upward. Next
to it is a Bird shaped Form (flight), The Head of the Bird is made of an upper-half or upper world sign
that is just above the earth-female-surface sign. The body of the Bird is made up of places signs and an
on-the side sign. The Stance or Position of the Bird is one of Sitting, awaiting flight. To the right we
have two signs connected (brown) a side-place sign and a Foot (journey) sign that is touching the
Jaguar (nighttime Sun) imagery. Next, to the right, we find an Arm and Hand (the warrior, the steward
of the Sun) that is made up of places signs. The meaning of the largest one is a kind of surface-place
 Page 32

(note the straight line in its center) bit the meaning of it Form is unknown, The Hand is in the Form of
an opening sign with a three lined (unseen-pathway) sign on it. The opening of the unseen-pathway.
The same sign appears at the Mouth (water-source) next to the, white, held-in sign that forms a Tooth.
And on top of the Head where it is associated with the location-place-female-earth signs (the Creature's
Eyes and Nose). The meaning of the dark Tongue is unknown.

This scene is difficult to understand because we do not know what the association was for the odd
imagery of what appears to be a Creature. It may represent something that is hairy or old –perhaps an
old Tumi Knife while Sitting (waiting) next to it is a young Bird (blue), a Fledgling, awaiting flight.

Illustration 23: Possible Worn Tumi Knife Form

The Rattle is also not entirely clear to us in its associations. We do know that the scene is primarily and
under-world scene and seems to be related to the burden involved for the Jaguar, the nighttime Sun and
the Serpent, (the Burden Bearers) the stream in the turning of the seeds/spirits below the earth and
taking them up the mountainside to begin their flight. We understand that the four Serpents (the
streams everywhere) on the side of the mountain (positional) are important as they relate to the three
(many) warriors sitting (awaiting flight). All three (the many) warriors have the male-spirit sign on
 Page 33

their bodies. The lowest warrior has three signs (white) in place of legs, place-male-spirit-unseen-
movement. The warrior's Arm and Hand make the gesture sign for, the high-mountain-peak. The other
warrior above him has his Arm and Hand making the sign for an opening-dark-place. The warrior
furthest to the left has his Arm and Hand in the sign of a Serpent (the stream) with the ascending sign
on its Head and Nose touching a place sign. The place of the ascending stream. In all three cases the
Eye (Venus) remains in the darkness, The Great Male-Spirit ( facing upward, Sunrise?) on the
mountainside coupled with the ascending Great Rattle (a possible constellation appearing on the
horizon) may have been the signal that initiated the flight of the warriors (the seed/spirits) to the sky.
Thus, in a sense it was the Rattle, the Great Shaker of the Seeds that “awakened” or signaled the
seed/spirits to ready for their flight to the sky.

Illustration 24: The Characters And Events Depicted In The Motif