Mastiff Bat Vessel (Moche, 50-200 AD North Coast, Peru, Earthenware)
Longtime readers will remember that Ferrebeekeeper has a great fondness for the magnificent art and pottery of the Moche, a civilization noted for sophisticated agriculture, ultra-violence, and, um, magnificent art and pottery. The Moche lived in the rich coastal lands of what is now northern Peru. In the past we have written about their art of sea monsters and human sacrifice, and of waterfowl. Today we look at Moche bat-themed art.
Crescent-Shaped Ornament with Bat, C.E. 1 – 300 (from the Brooklyn Museum)
Double lobed whistling bat sculpture (Ca. 450 – 800 A.D.) the bat makes a chirping/whistling noise when water is poured out and air is blown in
Gold Bat Ornament (Moche)
Bats were beloved subjects of much pre-Colombian art (I owe everyone a post about the bat in Aztec art and myth). Although they were great artists, the Moche were scary people who were always sacrificing and garroting and flaying (more about that next week) and excarnating and hanging corpses everywhere. Yeesh… Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bats of Moche art are scary creatures with grimacing monster teeth and near-human expressions of malice and grief.
Early Intermediate (Moche IV), Mochica Molded stirrup-spout vessel, A.D. 500–700 Ceramic with red and white slip North coast, Peru
Moche IV ceramic stirrup spout bat form effigy vessel
Sadly we don’t know precisely what place the bat held in Moche mythology. In fact we don’t know anything about Moche mythology except what we can intuit visually. However there are lots of bats to visually interpret and it seems like a safe bet that they had a chthonic underworld meaning (as they do in Western art and culture). These bats are demons and monsters born of the dark night-side of the human spirit.
Moche Vessel (Early Intermediate period) Bat demon
Probably Moche (?) AD 200-500
All of these grimacing fanged bats with bared claws and anguished eyes make me think of the Moche people themselves—caught up in their centuries-long game of bloody worship and savage status. I wish I could help them, or even understand them, but they are gone. All we have are their skeletons and their beautiful dark art.
Moche – Pair of Gilt Bat Appliques. Loma Negra, Peru.
Gold Nasal Ornament with bat (Moche)
ferrebeekeeper 
8 comments
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October 21, 2015 at 1:21 AM
frithkin
Another reason why I love your Blog Sir !!! I too love Moche pottery though I have never seen Moche Bats very cool . Thank you for sharing
October 21, 2015 at 1:24 AM
frithkin
A beautifully written article . I had a thought occur to me when reading it maybe bats represented like a dark creature but one who was not neccesarily against humans ( sorry if I am not making much sense ) .Like a bad guy who was their bad guy if that makes any aense ???!!
October 28, 2015 at 3:12 PM
Wayne
I think that makes sense? You see the (Moche) bats as having no reason to torment humans for no ends.
November 9, 2015 at 7:25 PM
frithkin
Exactly . I also felt like telling you that you have inspired some ideas for a new Swords and Wizardry White box rpg campaign inspired by Moche art like the bat . Kinda like the stuff I wrote to you in a previous reply about the Moche bat . So thank you for giving more gaming ideas Wayne 👍
November 10, 2015 at 12:39 PM
Wayne
It’s great to hear about your new game ideas! Keep ’em coming. The Moche themselves should be a game: the more I read about their world the more fascinating (and troubling) it seems. They are like a really dark World of Warcraft module except real (and with brilliant art).
October 21, 2015 at 4:50 AM
agnesashe
Great post. Good to see somebody championing the Moche and their pottery. I’m a fan too and also I think their metalwork is splendid.
October 28, 2015 at 3:08 PM
Wayne
Their work is so beautiful! It is simultaneously natural, recognizable, and lovely…yet also alien, abstract, and frightening. I just keep staring at it.
October 29, 2015 at 5:19 AM
agnesashe
Yes, I agree with you. I can’t understand why it’s not more widely appreciated with out 21st century delight in alien/abstract combinations.