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Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.97.jpg)
Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.97.jpg)
Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.97.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.97.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view2b_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view2b_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view4_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view4_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view1_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view1_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view3a_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view3a_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view7_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view7_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view6_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view6_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view3b_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view3b_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view8_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view8_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view5_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view5_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view2a_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Julia Burtenshaw, CUR.68.97_view2a_Julia_Burtenshaw_photograph.jpg)

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Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus

Arts of the Americas

Aong with textiles, ceramics were the primary medium of visual expression in the Andes beginning one thousand years ago. One of the earliest representational ceramic styles was that of the Southern Highlands Chavín culture, illustrated by this hollow figurine of a priest holding a branch of San Pedro cactus (Echinopsis pachanoi). The priest is elaborately dressed in a feline headdress, an animal-pelt cape, a loincloth, a collar, and large disc earrings. The hallucinogenic San Pedro cactus was consumed by Chavín priests to achieve transformative states and communicate with the spirit world.
CULTURE Late Chavin
MEDIUM Ceramic, pigment
  • Place Made: Tembladera, Cajamarca, Peru
    • DATES 500 to 200 B.C.E.
    DIMENSIONS 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
    ACCESSION NUMBER 68.97
    CREDIT LINE Gift of The Roebling Society
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Hollow figurine of a priest wearing elaborate regalia in the form of a jaguar headdress, animal-pelt cape, earrings, necklace, and white loincloth. He holds a stem of San Pedro cactus. The hollow figurine is in heavily tempered red to buff clay. Condition: painted surface is abraded and losses are evident. There are some abrasions on right leg. Repaired breaks on both sides of costume, on back, and around base of legs.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Late Chavin. Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.97.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, CUR.68.97.jpg., 2017
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Late Chavin. <em>Figurine of a Priest Holding San Pedro Cactus</em>, 500 to 200 B.C.E. Ceramic, pigment, 8 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (20.3 x 11.4 x 8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of The Roebling Society, 68.97. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.68.97.jpg)

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