#Ai Apaec

[bringbackwendellvaughn]

[kyndaris]

Peruvian Delights

Back in primary school, some of the books I'd read cover to cover were the Horrible Histories series by Terry Deary. Learning new facts about human history had always been fascinating to me (although, admittedly, most of them were fixated on British and European history). I'd pour over them, committing what I read to memory as best I could (alas, I don't have, and never will have, an eidetic memory). My desire to learn also extended to Horrible Science and Horrible Geography, which proved helpful in Year 7 where I was able to win a point of trivia because I was the only one in my class who knew about the San Andreas Fault.

One of the Horrible Histories books I remember enjoying very much was the one about Incans. And with the film: Emperor's New Groove releasing in cinemas during the early 2000s, I wanted to learn more about his seemingly ancient civilisation that only seemed to be rarely touched.

Admittedly, growing up, I did turn my attention to Aztec and Mayan societies because of the whole blood sacrifices and the removal of hearts, but if there was one place I wanted to visit (besides Egypt and the city of Petra in Jordan), it was Machu Picchu. That and the Nazca Lines, which have featured in many forms of media like Yu-Gi-Oh 5D, as well as in books like Anthony Horowitz's Power of Five series.

Unfortunately, I've not had the opportunity to travel to Peru. So, when the Australian Museum announced an upcoming exhibit of Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, I was eager to attend. After all, there was so much I wanted to see and understand about ancient Andean societies. Especially when it came to how the people lived and their belief systems.

The only problem? Finding someone who would be amenable to attend with me.

While I'd initially planned to go on a weekend, Dikottir and I ended up attending on a Wednesday night. He'd, of course, looked up a few events adjacent to the exhibit and discovered Peruvian Nights wherein the Australian Museum would remain open until late with live music, free film screenings and have a smorgasbord of Peruvian-inspired snacks. Or so he had been led to believe.

Spoiler alert: most of his choices were taken from him and we both ended up with Pork sausages with tomato chutney. No beef pies or empanadas. Or even the Peruvian bowl. I mean, there was a salad. But what hot-blooded man, or woman, would choose a healthy salad for dinner?

With our stomachs not quite as full as we had hoped, Dikottir and I made our way into the actual Machu Picchu exhibit. Though we were a tad bit early for our appointed session, the staff were still able to scan our tickets. In, we went, settling down first for an informational video about the various Andean societies and their close ties to nature, before we shuffled off the first hall. Here, it was revealed that the cosmology of the Andean world had three worlds: the Upper World where birds soared and was inhabited by the Sun and the celestial gods, the Here and Now occupied by humans and non-human creatures, and the Inner World which was associated with the night and was where the ancestors lived.

The separation of the worlds was represented by steps. Considering the mountainous region many of them lived in, it was understandable why step designs were found everywhere. This also impacted how they grew crops, utilising constructed agricultural terraces to increase the amount of arable land. Of course, the Incans were not the only ones to use terrace farming. As an aside to Dikottir, I pondered aloud if the rumoured Hanging Gardens of the Babylon had not used similar technology. After all, it would make sense for a 'hanging' garden to, well, hang over the side.

From there, we looked around at the other artefacts on display. Most of it was pottery shaped into specific animals: snake, jaguar, owl and hummingbird. However, there were also ones showcasing hybrid chimaeras.

Given their close connection to nature, many Andean societies had shamans. These were individuals that were able to communicate between the Here and Now and the other worlds. More importantly, they were also bequeathed with the power of animals. This, they were able to channel with psychotropic drugs and/ or fancy headwear.

Of course, when it came to depicting shamans, most of the artefacts Dikottir and I saw showed them as half-man and half-beast.

Oh, to be a were-jaguar or were-owl.

Before we descended down into the Inner World, however, we did get to see several other statues. One, in particular, drew my eye. Like many a civilisation before, and after them, Andean societies put a lot of emphasis on fertility and male virility. A skull-like entity, next to a woman with a gaping hole right below her pelvis, had a huge erect phallus. One he was eagerly holding in his hands.

Next to it were two statues of the ancestors. Apparently, in the Andean afterlife, the ancestors continue to copulate. Their deaths not an end but a new beginning, bringing forth new life. But seeing an artefact titled 'Ancestors masturbating' certainly had the ten-year-old in me giggling. Especially when the woman was clearly doing most of the work as she worked her hand on her partner's appendage.

The Inner World brought us face to face with a shape-shifting hero of mythical proportions: Ai Apaec. A figure of Moche culture, he was a hero known for travelling to different worlds to ensure the continuation of nature's cycles. Along the way, he is gifted with the ability to transform into various creatures including a crab and pufferfish. Along the way, he had a loyal buzzard and a dog to keep him company on his travels.

On his quest to return the sun to the world, and to ensure crops rainfall for crops, he would also be decapitated, his head transforming into a veritable skull. Of course, he is later saved and brought back to life through the power of...um...well...sex. Sex brings him back to life. And it also brings back his ability to propagate.

Honestly, there needs to be a video game about this guy. The lore, his powers and the story itself just lends itself perfectly to the media. Sorrengail, if you're reading this blog post, THIS was the video game idea I was proposing to you. And you can even insert the 'MASSIVE DAMAGE' meme into it if you so chose.

And, best of all, he appears in pop culture! As a villain in the grander Marvel universe! Something almost akin to Ezekiel Sim, the villain of the less than stellar Madame Web film that came out in 2024.

From the Inner World we moved to a different section of the exhibit. This one was focused on the attire of the nobility and how the splendour of their outfits reflected their role and status in society. Even warriors wore impressive regalia made of gold and silver, especially those of high status and close connection to the gods. Of particular note were the nose ornaments and the coccyx protector as can be seen in the picture below.

It wasn't long before Dikottir and I reached the end of the exhibit, which highlighted Machu Picchu. Unfortunately, the information there was a little scarce on details. Though the fortress was not discovered by the Spanish conquistadors, it did fade into obscurity and was retaken by the surrounding jungle. Over the years, locals still retained knowledge of its location but it was brough to the attention of the wider world by a Yale professor, Hiram Bingham.

After we had seen our fill of the exhibit, we stopped by the gift shop. Both of us bought llama rubber ducks for friends we weren't sure we would catch-up with anytime soon. I also purchased a woven bookmark and an 'erotic humorous magnet.' Or so my receipt tells me. Dikottir, too, also bought a magnet. Supposedly as a gift for his mum who seems to share my sense of humour.

With that, our expedition to Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru came to a close. While we did enjoy some additional music, and dance, in the Australian Museum proper, we later headed towards Town Hall for some light dessert.

And so my date with Dikottir came to its inexorable end.

While I don't mind his company (we do share quite similar views in terms of politics), I'm not sure either of us are romantically keen on the other. We certainly haven't jumped on adding personal phone numbers or officially 'friending' each other on Facebook. Nor do we text on a daily or regular basis.

In fact, during our 'date', I'd find my attention wandering to the others also exploring the exhibit or who were simply at the Australian Museum and indulging in the Peruvian vibe. What surprised me the most whilst there were the number of sapphic couples I saw.

Maybe I'm more sensitive since the CaitVi brainrot, but I couldn't help but somewhat wish I had a woman keeping me company.

Alas, Hinge is now gone. And while I do still seem to have a squish/ crush on someone in my friendship circle, nothing has actually eventuated. Despite the advice I've given to friends, I, too, am a filthy coward.

Time will tell if I'll ever end up with someone.

There's still a Valentine's Day/ Lunar New Year celebration I'm attending soon (which will actually be a couple of weeks prior to when this blog post goes up) where I might meet someone (although it does seem to cater for heterosexual couples more). Until then, dear reader, I bid you adieu.

[doyouknowmarvelcomiccharacter]

[telekineticmaniac]

Been working on fixing these weird lobster claw looking props I made for AB this year! I genuinely love these things — they are so weird!

[miscellaneous-art]

Moche/Mochica culture (Peru) ''Bottle neck with handle representing an anthropomorphic character with supernatural features (hero Ai Apaec) …'', 200 BC - 800 AD. © Museo Larco

[xphaiea]

Moche Culture sculpture of Ai Apaec, The Decapitator), gold, copper and polished stone

[marveldcnerdys]

Dark Avengers: 10 Most Powerful Members in Marvel History

Marvel’s Dark Avengers team hasn’t been around for long, but its various iterations have included some of the most powerful villains and antiheroes in the Marvel Universe. First formed by Norman Osborn during his Dark Reign leadership of H.A.M.M.E.R., the Dark Avengers were an intended insult to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (Avengers), with major villains dressed as their iconic costumes.

Norman Osborn got the public’s attention on his by manufacturing his own version of heroes like Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man, often by recruiting those who hated the original heroes.

While the Dark Avengers may have been fake heroes, they were always intended as an effective strike force against the biggest threats the world had to offer, helping Norman Osborn to retain his power.

From Doctor Doom and Morgan Le Fay to the Molecule Man and the Gods of Asgard, this Supervillains team took on towering threats, rising to the occasion with earth-shaking powers.

10 Gorgon

9 Iron Patriot (Dark Avengers version of Iron Man)

8 Toxie Doxie (Dark Avengers version of Wanda Maximoff)

7 AI Apaec (Dark Avengers version of Spider-man)

6 Sueperia

5. Moonstone

4. Skaar (Son of Hulk)

3 Ragnarok (Dark Avengers version of Thor)

2 Ares

1 Sentry

[fetznerdeathrecords]

Abhorration - Demonolatry

Death Metal from Oslo, Norway

Formed in early 2020 in Oslo, Norway's ABHORRATION featured members hailing from such bands as Condor, Nekromantheon, Hecatomb, Resonaut, Purple Hill Witch, and Obliteration. While one could reasonably expect what sound might result from such a conglomeration, the power-trio's first public recording, 2021's After Winter Comes War EP, aimed for an olde-world Metal of Death that abounded with a refreshing sense of the "new." Now, ABHORRATION are prepared to go deeper into the olde vs. "new" with their first full-length.

1. Chamber of Agilarept 05:16 2. Ai Apaec 05:55 3. Spawn of an Abhorrent Entity 07:34 4. Invoke Them 06:30 5. The Grace of Immolation 05:21 6. Demonolatry 06:13

Release date: Oktober 4th, 2024 via @invictus_productions

[little-witchys-garden]

Why I love using cats in my witchcraft

I love cats, they're one of my favorite creatures and one of the few creatures I love using in my witchcraft.

I love cat symbolism, cat figures, cat themed things, cat magick, connecting with cat spirits, and allowing my own pet cats in my witchcraft.

So let's talk about cats!

The spiritual symbolism of Cats:

cats are symbolic of rebirth and resurrection, per their nine lives. Because they are nocturnal, they are also associated with darkness independence, guardian energy, the esoteric, and mystery, elegance, curiosity, independence, protection, magic, and other notable qualities.

Divine cats connect with:

Bastet

Sekhmet

Eros

Nergal

Mafdet

Kasha

Wadjet

Mishipeshu

Nyx

Selene

Ceridwen

Palu

Dawon

the yule cat

The cat sithe

Brighid

Ovinnik

Hecate

Li Shou

Ai-Apaec

Bòge cat

Freya

Maneki-neko

Tezcatlipoca

Kapitángan

And that's not even all not them!

Different cats have different meanings:

Yep that's right! We all know the black cat = bad luck thing but did you know there's lots of superstitions around cats? I'll name a few!

Black cats are bad luck unless you're a sailor or a witch then they're good luck.

For sailors white cats were bad luck!

Calico cats in Japan are actually seen as good luck and even luckier if they have a bobbed tail!

It is bad luck to cross a stream carrying a cat.

If a cat purrs at nothing, a ghost is in the room.

Bathing a cat will cause it to rain.

A cat at a wedding is a good omen

If you can pluck a pure white hair from an all-black cat without being scratched, you will be lucky all your life long

Cats can see death

Fishermen’s wives believe that their husbands will be safe at sea if a black cat is kept in the house

A kitten being born the same day as your baby means your baby will have a lucky life.

Blue eyed cats are good luck

Cats spread gossip so they should not enter rooms where private discussions are taking place.

When you see a one-eyed cat, spit on your thumb, stamp your palm with your thumb and make a wish.

Killing a cat means 17-18 years of bad luck

If a cat jumps across a grave, that corpse will return as a vampire.

If a cat sneezes three times, someone else is going to catch a cold.

If a cat has kittens in your house, it is a sign that your house has no evil spirits

If you head off on a journey and see a cat on your left side, it is a sign of good luck.

Visiting a home with a cat? Kiss the cat for good luck.

And that’s just a few cat superstitions!

Cats in witchcraft/spirituality in history:

Cats were feared and thought to indicate the presence of evil, either being the Devil himself, or a witch in disguise, a demon, a faery in disguise, undead, immortal or a ghost.

As early as the 13th century, the Catholic Church linked cats to Satan, heretics, witches, pagans, demons, ghosts, the fae, vampires and zombies. Over time during slavery of both the Irishs and Africans the church connected them too hoodoo, voodoo and Irish paganism though it was mostly because slaves would keep these creatures as cherished companions during their years of slavery since cats were a plenty and often times were from/born on the plantations. Cats also had a connection to native Americans as well! Many cats essentially pregnant Cats get abandoned by their owners left on many reservations, these abandoned cats become the devoted pets and mouse hunters on reservations helping in keeping rodent populations down And with that came native based spiritual beliefs around cats! Cats have been beloved and faithful companions of the oppressed for centuries!

Also just adding in feng shui cats are seen as protectors and good luck!

Cats also are symbols of femininity, queerness, ABC being on trans spectrum.

There's so much more about cats in mythology, folklore, superstitions, witchcraft and other spiritual beliefs!

So if you wanna add animal symbolism into your craft then the protective, lucky and mysterious cat might be for you!

Artists name on photo!

[nianderful]

and now: a not-so-brief tangent on jaguar (2024) from an ivette velez stan

hello! it's been a while since i made a post like this but it's for a good reason! and i have a Lot to say so i'm putting it under a cut.

not a lot of people who follow me may know about this but i've been kind of losing it (/pos) over one of archie comics' latest oneshots— the jaguar, which came out about a couple of weeks back. it's a pretty great comic, and one that means a lot to me as someone who's actually been a fan of ivette velez/jaguar II for quite a long time. ask anyone who follows me on discord and they'll tell you; i can talk about this catgirl for hours.

while i find new crusaders to be pretty....alright, ivette's character was the only one that stuck with me. i related a lot to her shyness and fear, and found it wonderful to read about her overcoming her fears and rising up as a hero.

go ahead, girl. i am of the opinion that she carries this comic in terms of writing. (ian flynn had only 20% of his power, and it went into her) as for mighty crusaders 2017, i found it to be....Fine but hey! The Girl! Yay!

(i think 2017!ivette is cool...when i'm able to ignore the inconsistent lore. i'm a bit of a lore nut) so to sum up: i've been a fan of ivette velez for a long time. and i've pleaded with the comic gods for her to get her due for. well. a long time (again just ask my discord pals) so you can imagine how happy i was when the jaguar oneshot was announced last year. it was a very wonderful day. i was finally being fed after so long three and a half months later, here i am, and let me preface by saying: the jaguar is great. it's the comic i always dreamed of ivette getting. and i can't really go on without saying thank you to the creative team. you worked magic and i hope you know that.

i don't want this to be a super long post going through a play-by-play of this comic so i'm going to talk about what i came out liking the most: the meaning and pathos it gives to ivette as a character, and the jaguar name.

let me preface this by admitting something: as much as i adore ivette in new crusaders, i'm starting to realize/understand that her character's sort of....bare-bones. i love her dearly but it's kind of true. she's just shy and scared and little else until she's not. while she’s still the only new crusader to get something resembling an arc, a lot of it is “shy one stands up for herself”.

and, again, i love her for that! there aren't a lot of superhero characters i'm able to see myself in, because a lot of the time, shy girls don't become heroes.

but part of appreciating the jaguar meant accepting the reality that there wasn't much to her in new crusaders. and that makes me appreciate with the former comic did with her all the more

the first two pages of the oneshot do wonderfully with establishing her relationship with her heritage—she doesn't really have one.

(i can talk about how much i love tango's art all day, how it does a phenomenal job showing us not just how reserved ivette is, but how insecure she feels answering the question "are you from peru?")

this is so much more than what we got in new crusaders; instead of being Shy And Nothing More, she's shy...and someone who clearly has a bunch of baggage. and this isn't even getting into the pathos this story adds to the jaguar name. in new crusaders, it's simply ivette's hero identity. her powers come from the helmet of ai apaec, but there's nothing more than that.

but in the jaguar, ai apaec's helmet (and his entire existence) is tied to ivette's growth. and we learn as the comic goes on that the name 'jaguar' means more to her than a superhero moniker

one of the parts of this comic that struck me the most is the panel talking about one of the peruvian ruins ivette visits

this panel sticks with me because. there's a lot of parallels to ivette's backstory. the legend of a girl who lost her parents...

... and became a powerful jaguar.

it's pretty clear that ivette's got close ties to this legend, and that's before we learn where ai apaec factors in all this.

again, let's go back to new crusaders for a bit. in that comic, ai apaec's just a bloodthirsty god who looks down on ivette at first...

...and only gives her his powers when she tells him where to stick it.

(there's just a bit more to their dynamic than that actually but. not relevant)

in the jaguar, though, we learn pretty quickly that ai apaec was the god mentioned in the panel discussing the jaguar's lair...

and we're reminded that ivette is the girl in that legend. and also may be an reincarnation of ai apaec. the guy's not just the source of her powers; they're one in the same.

(these panels are so SICK man the art in this slaps so hard)

the dynamic between ai apaec and ivette just feels deeper than it is in new crusaders. he's instrumental in her growth and self-realization. his last bit of dialogue is....augh

(it's probably not a coincidence that ai apaec's appearance is more jaguar-esque than it is in new crusaders)

the main takeaway i got from all this: ivette velez Is the jaguar, and not just because that's her hero name.

all of this comes together in the final page of the comic, where ivette is able to answer the question "are you from peru?" with certainty—and in spanish no less.

honestly, this is just part of the package. i haven't even gotten into the writing or the villain (and i'm not telling. read the comic you yahoos) and again i could gush about the art all day.

but this is the number one thing i appreciate about the jaguar. it takes a character who was pretty two-dimensional in her debut and adds meaning, depth, and emotion to her character. she's so much more than who she was, and while i love both iterations, i can't deny that.

to end this little spiel: i made this post last year. and in said post i expressed my dream that ivette would get her own shadow of the batgirl.

and now i can say that wish has been granted in spades. (i mean. i would've loved a graphic novel but we can't have it all) i've said this once but i am so so thankful for that. i'm thankful that i can say that ivette velez is more than a character who's potential was wasted.

and to everyone who brought this comic to life: thank you from a fellow shy girl. and while i'm hopeful that the future is as bright as this, i'm also very grateful for what we've got. thank you.

[the-a-archives]

who are your favorite spidey’s?? 👁️👁️

WHAT A LOADED FUCKING QUESTION.

theyre in alphabetical order just for you <3

Miles Morales (both earth 1610 &1610B) (he's my favorite he goes ontop)

'Spinner (Earth 616)

Ai Apaec (Earth 616)

Cooper Coen (Earth 71490)

Doppelganger (Earth 616)

Gwendolyn Stacy (Earth 65)

Hobart Brown (Earth 138)

Longlegs Secundus (Earth 616)

Mig-El Gand (Earth 9602)

Miguel O'hara (both Earth 928 and 928B)

Otto Octavius (Superior Spider-Man) (Earth 12131)

Peter Parker (Earth 10208)

Peter Parker (Earth 96283)

Peter Parker (Earth-120703)

Peter Parker (Earth 13122)

Peter Parker (Earth 199999)

Peter Parker (Earth 2149)

Peter Parker (Earth 92100)

Peter Parker (Earth TRN603)

Peter Porker (Earth TRN456)

Scarlet Spider (Earth 13346)

Spidair (Earth 91202)

Spider Sting (Earth 38418)

Tarantula (Earth 13346)

The Spider (Earth 1610)

[onlylonelylatino]

Ivette Velez the future Jaguar meets Ai Apaec by Ben Bates and Alitha Martinez

[agendaculturaldelima]

#AmigosInolvidables #Poesia

📖 “CUADERNO DE VIAJE” 📜✒️🔥

🗯 Recorrido y exploración de la tierra del dios Moche de las montañas: el creador Ai Apaec. Un viaje de conexión con lo ancestral y eterno; lo divino y lo humano. Viaje descrito en versos, donde se hace accesible su inmersión, trasmitiendo la belleza y la trascendencia que descubre en el territorio del norte. Su diálogo interno, la visión vasta, el aletear de las aves o el tambor de la muerte, lo convierte en arte y con alquimia nos ofrece: sueño o tengo la sensación que un ave / escapa rauda de mi cabeza y se pierde / el mismo sueño repite el totoral / sea ello, el presagio de mi muerte. Así, se construye un universo de significado dual, donde puede situarse en el cuerpo, la voz y la conciencia del victimario y la víctima, del inocente y el culpable, donde el bien y el mal cruzan la línea y se diluyen: Yo soy / el acusado / el acusador / el contumaz.💜

✍️ Autor: Edwin André

👥 Comentarios: Zoila Capristán y Miguel Ildefonso

© Editorial: Hipocampo Editores.

📌 PRESENTACIÓN:

📆 Viernes 23 de Agosto

��� 7:00pm

🏪 Casa Tomada Librería Caf�� (av. Petit Thouars 3506 - San Isidro)

 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️ Ingreso libre 

[elgaberino-mcoc]

“ANY SIX-ARMED SPIDEY” has been added to the MCOC Wishlist

You can vote for this entry if you think @MarvelChampions should add someone like Man-Spider, Doppelganger, Dark Spider-Man, etc.