Ancient Mural in Peru Depicts a Knife-Wielding Spider God Associated with Fertility
An archeologist from Northern Peru has discovered an ancient mural from 3,200 years ago. The mural depicts a zoomorphic spider wielding a knife and was associated by the experts with fertility as well as the rain.
The ancient mural is not the only unearthed ancient animal artwork to be discovered in the country. An enormous illustration of a cat dated between 200-100 BC was discovered when one of the hills that overlook the Nazca Line Geoglyphs was undergoing an improvement, according to a report from The Guardian.
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Ancient Mural in Peru
The ancient mural is located in Virú Province in Peru's La Libertad region. The mural was discovered when the farmers in the region demolished much of the site to expand the area of their land for their sugarcane and avocado plantations, according to a WION News report.
The mural is painted on a mud wall using ochre, yellow, white, and gray paint. The wall is a 15 meters by 15 meters mud-brick structure.
Franco Jordán, an archeologist from Wisse Foundation, collaborated with archeologist Feren Castillo. They concluded that the discovered mural was a place utilized for rituals, according to a translated La República report.
"What we have here is a shrine that would have been a ceremonial center thousands of years ago," said Jordán.
Experts claim that the shrine was constructed by the pre-Columbian Cupisnique culture. The culture was developed on the northern coast of Peru over 3,000 years ago.
Jordán associated spider god to the waters and is said to be an integral part of the Hispanic culture, according to a Daily Caller report. "It is likely that there was a special, sacred water ceremony held between January and March," said Jordán adding that these months were when rains came down from the higher areas.
The inferences of the archeologists came after they discovered the temple's distance from the water. Because of this, the spider god was associated with water, convincing the experts the temple is dedicated to water deities.
Experts reported that about 60 percent of the complex was already destroyed by the farmers that led to the discovery of the ancient mural. The complex lies 500 kilometers in the north of Lima.
Ancient Mural and Other Ancient Discovery
Earlier discoveries were also done by the archaeologists, aside from the giant cat and knife-wielding spider god. Nazca Lines were also discovered in the Peruvian desert. Featuring illustrations like spiders, orcas, and monkeys, the etchings or illustrations on the ground measure 120 feet long and are clearly seen in an aerial view.
Proper investigation of the ancient mural in Peru is suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the site that depicts a knife-wielding spider god is already registered and will be covered until the pandemic has already been lifted. Jordán has called the temple "Tomabalito," named after the nearby archaeological site. The said site is known as El Castillo de Tombal.
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WATCH: Ancient Drawings Discovered in Peru - from National Geographic
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