Birds, The Spirit Messengers

The earthenware object on the left is unique. The vessel, which resembles a duck, was buried with the deceased in a Gaya tomb.

The people of Gaya believed that birds had a unique ability to travel to the next world. Thus, bird-shaped objects were buried in a tomb because they were believed to escort the dead safely to the next world.

In ancient Andean culture, birds were also recognized as symbols of heaven. The condor, eagle and owl, in particular, were believed to be close to god. Nocturnal birds were thought to be related to death and the afterlife, and were believed to serve as guides on the journey to the next world.

Now let’s look at the artifact on your right. Can you see the iron plate adorned with a decorative bird? A wooden pole was inserted into the plate and it was used for large parades or funeral rites. Just like the duck-shaped pottery, this was also used for the funeral.

Relics featuring birds have been found throughout the world, including Gaya. It is obvious that ancient people considered birds to be special.