Moche Stirrup Vessel Depicting Two Warriors

Like the knights of chivalric Europe, the Mochica warrior class played an important role in the history of their age. The art that celebrates these warriors is full of images of bravery, swiftness, pride and power. On this unusual vessel, two warriors are shown confronting each other. They wear rounded helmets and carry circular shields; their war clubs, originally made of wood, have disappeared with the centuries. Are we witnessing a scene of combat, or is this a ceremony of honor, similar to the dubbing of knighthood? Like a faded photograph without a caption, this vessel offers a tantalizing glimpse of the past. To look upon it is to set the imagination free on a journey of discovery.