Beaker with Repouse Motifs Under Rim Possibly 600 - 1000

This silver beaker, crafted by the Tiwanaku people, features repoussé motifs under its rim, a testament to their complex belief system. Notice how the stylized faces peer out from the metal. These are not mere decorations; they are potent symbols, likely representing deities or ancestral figures, integral to Tiwanaku cosmology. Consider the ancient Greek tradition of depicting gods on drinking vessels, a similar desire to imbue everyday objects with sacred meaning. Such motifs are not static; they evolve, resurfacing in different guises across cultures. What begins as a depiction of a powerful god might, over time, transform into a protective emblem, its original significance subtly altered by the collective unconscious. This cyclical progression of symbols illustrates how humanity seeks to give shape to the elusive forces that govern our existence.