#AMARU

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

500-year-old Snake Figure from Peru (Incan Empire), c. 1450-1532 CE: this fiber craft snake was made from cotton and camelid hair, and it has a total length of 86.4cm (about 34in)

This piece was crafted by shaping a cotton core into the basic form of a snake and then wrapping it in structural cords. Colorful threads were then used to create the surface pattern, producing a zig-zag design that covers most of the snake's body. Some of its facial features were also decorated with embroidery.

A double-braided rope is attached to the distal end of the snake's body, near the tip of its tail, and another rope is attached along the ventral side, where it forms a small loop just behind the snake's lower jaw. Similar features have been found in other serpentine figures from the same region/time period, suggesting that these objects may have been designed for a common purpose.

Very little is known about the original function and significance of these artifacts; they may have been created as decorative elements, costume elements, ceremonial props, toys, gifts, grave goods, or simply as pieces of artwork.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art argues that this figure might have been used as a prop during a particular Andean tradition:

In a ritual combat known as ayllar, snakes made of wool were used as projectiles. This effigy snake may have been worn around the neck—a powerful personal adornment of the paramount Inca and his allies—until it was needed as a weapon. The wearer would then grab the cord, swing the snake, and hurl it in the direction of the opponent. The heavy head would propel the figure forward. The simultaneous release of many would produce a scenario of “flying snakes” thrown at enemies.

The same custom is described in an account from a Spanish chronicler named Cristóbal de Albornoz, who referred to the tradition as "the game of the ayllus and the Amaru" ("El juego de los ayllus y el Amaru").

The image below depicts a very similar artifact from the same region/time period.

Why Indigenous Artifacts Should be Returned to Indigenous Communities.

Sources & More Info:

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Snake Ornament

Serpent Symbology: Representations of Snakes in Art

Journal de la Société des Américanistes: El Juego de los ayllus y el Amaru

Yale University Art Gallery: Votive Fiber Sculpture of an Anaconda

[sevcnne]

where my sapphic siege fans at? AAAAAA!!!

[felidaeng]

yuppp

[albatross-the-pen-chewer]

my son is becoming real

[your-fave-is-being-blended]

Can you maybe blend Amaru from Amaru: The Self-Care Pet?

Amaru from Amaru: The Self-Care Pet is being blended!!

You cannot save him.

[iamelflink]

i give you all,, evil princesses and wicked Red 🔥🔥🔥( and now finally Amaru!!)

i actually love how Amaru turned out for my first try too,,

[wodeworm]

The Amaru or Katari (Aymara) a majestic twin headed serpent like creature depicted across Andean Civilizations, Originally said to have been capable of transcending spiritual and otherworldly boundaries for the world was Separated into the realm of the gods and birds, Hanan Pacha or the world above; the world where mankind resides the Kay Pacha or world of the present; and finally the underground realm of the dead or the Ukhu Pacha, the world below. where its said the Amaru would move the world by its shear size and force of will, creating many of the mountainous outcroppings seen in the region, or creating devastating earthquakes. This would gain the great beasts the ire of the of gods and leading to cataclysmic and deadly conflict's the great serpents deaths would create vast mountain ranges.

The revered creatures lore and depictions would be altered to suit changing society's and foreign colonial influence trying and suppress Indigenous beliefs and values, some Incan rulers even tried to harness this power by adopting name for themselves to try and cement their political gain . Eventually this lead to depictions that suited a more chimeric monstrous for, reflecting its old world counter parts, adopting traits from many other creature, to now be defeated by mere humans.

some cultures preserved and even re incorporated these new aspects with the old, creating hybrid depictions and gaining very broad symbolism such as the economy of water, and tending to the land, and even more cosmological aspects of space or wisdom, or simple fundamentals of the creativity of the peoples, sometimes these new Amaru could be seen clashing with each other. representing the more destructive side of nature, devastating the peoples and the lands, too only be stopped by the storms themselves or through the intervention of their old rivals, now taking a new cast of god's. once again through death creating the Mantaro valley returning to their earthly roots.

[blueflyingturtleontheway]

Til sunrise

Word count: 847

Fandom: Lolirock

Characters: Talia, Amaru

Other: Pre-Canon, continuation of episode 6 - Xeris, angst, abandonment, optimistic ending

Created for the first prompts of @whumptober and #lolirocktober (prompts here and here)

She never realised just how cold the castle walls were, but now, hidden by a broken passage, she could feel the chill seeping in through her thin dress. She was still trembling, even when she ran out of tears to cry.

She watched her own reflection in the dark crystal until it got too dark to see anymore, and then she just stared into the blank night. She didn't remember the nights ever being this dark. Was it another spell of Gramorr's? If he could cover the ground with dark crystals, maybe he did something to the sky too? Or it was simply the smoke.

She coughed with another breath and the sound echoed through the empty rooms- ruins. She immediately covered her mouth with her hand. She listened. Her body was tense and she repeated Crystal Collidum in her mind, to execute it perfectly if she had to protect herself. She regretted not remembering any more spells.

Finally after minutes or hours she let her guard down. It was slowly getting brighter and she was now sure that there wasn't anyone but her around. At least not a living soul.

She closed her eyes when she caught a glimpse of another translucent figure with the corner of her eye. She was cold, she was lonely and she was scared. But the darkness under her eyelids was more pleasant than the darkness around her and she finally admitted to herself that above all, she was tired.

She shot up after what felt like mere seconds. Her heart was racing and her eyes darted around, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Why was she sleeping on the ground...?

As soon as her gaze fell on the dark crystal before her, the horrors of last night came back to her. She felt a new wave of tears flood her eyes and she hid her face in her knees to at least not have to look at herself as she cried. It would only remind her that there's nobody here to comfort her.

Suddenly, through her own sobs she heard something that filled her both with hope and fear. It was a voice.

"Over there! Can you hear it too?" It was coming from above, from where the main hall used to be.

"The little guy seems to, at least. You really think someone would be here so soon after the attack?" There were more of them.

She pushed herself into the corner and tried to hold her breath but then she felt like suffocating, which would only make her breath more loudly, which would definitely make them hear her, and suddenly she was barely able to breath at all.

The sound of many footsteps was getting closer and she could now distinguish the sound of soft paws on stone among them.

Did Gramorr come back to get her too? Was it Banes?

She squeezed her sister's amulet in one hand and extended the other, trying to calm down enough to summon her magic circle.

"Everyone be ready. It's probably just a looter but..."

But how was she supposed to be calm? Her heart was louder than the patter of the approaching paws.

Her circle flickered and went out and so did her hope. Was he going to eat her? Did Banes eat princesses? Did he eat Izira too?

She clutched the amulet with both hands and squeezed her eyes shut, repeating in her mind all the prayers to the good stars for someone - for her sister - to come save her.

But she didn't feel sharp teeth bite into her flesh, or vicious claws tear her apart. Instead, something soft rubbed over her leg.

She risked opening her eyes.

A pair of big green eyes looked back at her.

She's never actually seen Banes, but she knew it couldn't be him. Banes was giant, could breath fire and was very, very evil. And this little puff of white and purple fur couldn't be evil in the slightest.

It put its paws on her knees and moved closer to sniff her. Its wet nose touched hers and it sneezed, knocking itself over in the process. Talia giggled.

"So who do we have here, little guy?" A pair of boots came into her view and a man bent down into her hiding spot. "Oh. Hello there."

Talia recoiled and her hands went back to the amulet.

The man instinctively reached for her but then stopped and instead put his hands up so she could see that he was unarmed. He knelt down far enough for her not to feel cornered but - as she realised when she was finally brave enough to look at him again - still close enough to obscure the horrible dark crystal.

"Hey, it's alright, we're not here to hurt you." He smiled gently. "You're safe now, the rescue mission is here."

The purple puff climbed back into her lap and Talia finally allowed herself to pet it. It was soft and she was starting to believe that perhaps the man was actually telling the truth.

[ancient-america]

Gothic Cholita

Gothic Andeans

[thingsasbarcodes]

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - All Cutscenes

[delightful-pisces-fanart]

How do we feel about this ship?

[albatross-the-pen-chewer]

Amaru in rain world... what will he do

[undergcore]

a sip

[lolirockversionpolish]

Polish Version

Witajcie Lolirocers,

Życzę wszystkich wesołych święta bożego narodzenia, spełnienia marzeń i żeby nasz serial LoliRock ujrzał światło dzienne.

Pozdrawiamy.

English version

Hello Lolirocers,

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, may your dreams come true and that our LoliRock series will see the light of day.

Best regards.

[l3r40l]

[shepherdfeathers]

Work in progress design for my pet care simulation app!

My game will be a cozy, ambience based idle game where you take care of a strange creature in a medieval inspired setting. It will feature extensive interactions with your pet, cute animations, and flexible customization for your pet and home!

Should it have a garden? NPCs? What should the pet sound like? You decide!

Uncover the secrets of the world you find yourself in, everything might not be as cute and harmless as it first seems…

If you want to help me design the perfect domestic life simulator, please take my survey! I also have a discord server.