Mochica Decapitator Gods

In Mochica art (1–800 AD), gods are shown in combat with supernatural beings or humans, often ending in the decapitation of the defeated. These deities use a crescent-shaped knife called a tumi , symbolizing power and authority. This reflects the Mochica civilization’s focus on ritual warfare and the spiritual significance of decapitation, highlighting the interplay between divine and mortal realms in their cosmology.