According to the label, the pot was made around the year 500 and was used to store either food or water.
Perhaps the most puzzling artifact I observed at the museum was a dragon statue accompanied by two masks on either side of it. It seemed to contrast heavily with the rest of the art and artifacts at the museum.
To me, something like this would be common in a museum of Chinese heritage rather than a Peruvian one; the only explanation I can think of is something I learned from my readings about ancient Peru, which is that many Chinese and Japanese immigrants came to Peru to work the fields, perhaps influencing some of the artwork of Peru.
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After leaving the museum, we went to the Plaza Mayor of Lima, which was tons of fun. A large variety of restaurants were at our disposal, so we split up and, ultimately, after being heckled by about five different restaurant owners, decided to have lunch at a seafood restaurant, which was quite good. Additionally, the heckling was rather exhilarating and fun. The restaurant owners kept offering free drinks and lowering their prices if we would just come to their respective establishments.
Probably the highlight of my day, while in the Plaza Mayor, was visiting the Basilica Cathedral of Lima. It was utterly overwhelming and filled with historical and religious items, including statues, sculptures, gifts to the archbishops, etc. One of the many notable things about the cathedral was the way the light may shine on the golden statues at the top of the cathedral. At a certain time of the day, the light reflects off of the floor of the cathedral and on to the statues, creating an illuminating light that spans all of the wing of the cathedral.
Overall, I had a great day and learned a lot about Peruvian culture and architecture.
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