The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 28, 2024

Vessel with Oculate Being

Vessel with Oculate Being

300 BCE–1 CE
Location: 232 Andean

Description

A supernatural creature known today as the Oculate Being, after its huge eyes, became prominent late in Paracas times. The Paracas left no written records and this creature's meaning is poorly apprehended, but it clutches a severed human head by the hair. A hint of the head's significance comes from the Oculate Being itself, whose head sprouts streamers that may represent abstract energy or force. The severed head cult, then, may have aimed at capturing and redirecting this energy. (Other Paracas objects appear nearby.)
  • Bergh, Susan E., "Ancient Eyes", Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 44 no. 06, Summer 2004 Mentioned & reproduced: p. 8-9 archive.org
  • {{cite web|title=Vessel with Oculate Being|url=false|author=|year=300 BCE–1 CE|access-date=28 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1998.70