Esther's photos with the keyword: huaca

Wall murals at Huaca de la Luna. Huaca de la Luna, which is located near Trujillo, Peru, was built between 600 and 900 AD by the Moche people. AIMG 1445

Wall murals at Huaca de la Luna. Huaca de la Luna, which is located near Trujillo, Peru, was built between 600 and 900 AD by the Moche people. AIMG 1446

Carving of Ai apaec at Huaca de la Luna near Trujillo, Peru. "Ai apaec (from the Mochica Aiapæc [a.ja.pøk] or [aiapøk]), also called decapitador was the chief deity of the Mochica culture, was one of their gods punishers, the most feared and adored, is also called the headsman. Ai Apaec was worshiped as the creator god, protector of the Moche, a provider of water, food and military triumphs. Aiapaec means 'doer' in Mochica language. The most common representation of Ai Apaec is that seen in the murals of the Temples of the moon and sun (picture), which presents an anthropomorphic face with feline fangs and surrounding ocean waves. Ai apaec was represented in several ways, depending on the period, place, and support used. In metallurgy, for example, Ai apaec is often seen as a spider with eight legs and an anthropomorphic face with jaguar fangs. In ceramics the divinity is often more anthropomorphic, usually with his head in his hands and sometimes with two snakes sprouting from his head (hair??). In sculpture he is shown with a staff. It is said that during human sacrifices, prisoners were decapitated and their heads given to Ai apaec." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_apaec AIMG 1433

Carving of Ai apaec at Huaca de la Luna near Trujillo, Peru. "Ai apaec (from the Mochica Aiapæc [a.ja.pøk] or [aiapøk]), also called decapitador was the chief deity of the Mochica culture, was one of their gods punishers, the most feared and adored, is also called the headsman. Ai Apaec was worshiped as the creator god, protector of the Moche, a provider of water, food and military triumphs. Aiapaec means 'doer' in Mochica language. The most common representation of Ai Apaec is that seen in the murals of the Temples of the moon and sun (picture), which presents an anthropomorphic face with feline fangs and surrounding ocean waves. Ai apaec was represented in several ways, depending on the period, place, and support used. In metallurgy, for example, Ai apaec is often seen as a spider with eight legs and an anthropomorphic face with jaguar fangs. In ceramics the divinity is often more anthropomorphic, usually with his head in his hands and sometimes with two snakes sprouting from his head (hair??). In sculpture he is shown with a staff. It is said that during human sacrifices, prisoners were decapitated and their heads given to Ai apaec." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_apaec AIMG 1435

"The Huaca del Sol is an adobe brick temple built by the Moche civilization (100 CE to 800 CE) on the northern coast of what is now Peru. The temple is one of several ruins found near the volcanic peak of Cerro Blanco, in the coastal desert near Trujillo at the Moche Valley. The other major ruin at the site is the nearby Huaca de la Luna, a better-preserved but smaller temple. By 450 CE, eight different stages of construction had been completed on the Huaca del Sol. The technique was additive; new layers of brick were laid directly on top of the old, hence large quantities of bricks were required for the construction. Archeologists have estimated that the Huaca del Sol was composed of over 130 million adobe bricks and was the largest pre-Columbian adobe structure built in the Americas. The number of different makers' marks on the bricks suggests that over a hundred different communities contributed bricks to the construction of the Huacas. The Huaca del Sol was composed of four main levels. The structure was expanded and rebuilt by different rulers over the course of time. It is believed to have originally been about 50 meters in height and 340m. by 160 m. at the base. Located at the center of the Moche capital city, the temple appears to have been used for ritual, ceremonial activities and as a royal residence and burial chambers. Archaeological evidence attests to these functions. During the Spanish occupation of Peru in the early 17th century, colonists redirected the waters of the Moche River to run past the base of the Huaca del Sol in order to facilitate the looting of gold artifacts from the temple. The operation of the hydraulic mine greatly damaged the Huaca del Sol. In total, approximately two-thirds of the structure has been lost to erosion and such looting. The remaining structure stands at a height of 41 meters (135 feet)." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huaca_del_Sol AIMG 1442

View of sand covered ruins near Huaca de la Luna just outside of Trujillo, Peru. AIMG 1428