The Moche culture was highly sophisticated. The Moche created monumental ritual temples, expansive irrigation systems, and a prolific art tradition that found expression in various media, including painted and moulded ceramic vessels.
Moche skilled ceramists produced a great variety of exquisitely decorated vessels. The decoration is sometimes painted on the smooth surface of vessels; other times it is tridimensional, forming the vessel shape itself.
Moche pottery was used for everything from eating and drinking to human sacrifices made to the gods. The most intricate pieces were used for ceremonial purposes and often buried with elite rulers. The Moche practiced a polytheistic religion. The Moche religion worshipped several gods. The Moche goddess Si is the goddess of the moon. Si is the most powerful god in the Moche religion because the moon is always in the sky, even in the daytime, and the moon influences the seasons and weather.
The Moche were impressive metalworkers, primarily using gold, silver, copper and their alloys. In addition to jewellery, they made tools, weapons, headdresses, ceremonial attire and important ornamental pieces for their rituals. Working in gold and silver, Moche artists were adept at hammering, soldering, and setting stones, as well as developing a process to make a copper-gold alloy appear to be solid gold—a technique known as depletion gilding.
The Moche were innovators on many political, ideological, and artistic levels. They developed a powerful elite and specialized craft production, and instituted labor tribute payments.
The Moche also developed irrigation systems that contributed to their civilization's success and growth. The Moche irrigation system was extremely efficient. As the economy relied heavily on agriculture and internal trading relationships, the irrigation system ensured their entire region had water for their crops.
Moche culture
