The Legume Pod Motif as a Symbolic Representation of the Shamanic Hallucinogen, Vilca (Anadenanthera spp.), in Pre-Columbian Andean Cultures

Abstract

This article reports on the identification and associations of the “legume pod” motif seen in pre-Columbian Andean iconography as representing the hallucinogenic vilca (Anadenanthera spp.) seeds. The earliest known occurrences of the legume pod motif appear in Paracas textiles associated with figures referred to as mythical, supernatural, or anthropomorphic, including recognizable beings as the Ecstatic Shaman and the Oculate or Masked Being. Symbolic analysis leads to a convincing interpretation of these figures as shamans in the act of transformation upon ingesting a hallucinogenic plant, specifically, vilca. Additional insight comes from individual textiles depicting the legume pod motif featured alongside culturally significant plants and shamanic snuffing paraphernalia, further indicating that this motif represents a hallucinogenic plant. Appearances of the legume pod motif continue through the Early Intermediate Period in Nazca culture, and terminate at the end of the Middle Horizon with the Tiwanaku and Wari cultures.

Este artículo informa sobre la identificación de un símbolo común, el símbolo de “legume pod”, en la iconografía Andina precolombina como representación de las semillas alucinógenas de vilca (Anadenanthera spp.). Las primeras apariciones conocidas de este símbolo aparecen en los textiles de Paracas asociados con figuras referidas como míticas y sobrenaturales, como el “Ecstatic Shaman” y el “Oculate Being”. El análisis simbólico conduce a una interpretación convincente de estas figuras como chamanes en el acto de transformación al ingerir una planta alucinógena, específicamente, vilca. Una evidencia adicional viene de textiles que representan este símbolo junto con plantas culturalmente significativas y parafernalia chamánica, lo que sugiere que este símbolo representa una planta alucinógena. Las apariencias del símbolo de la “legume pod” de Paracas continúan durante el “Early Intermediate Period” en la cultura Nazca y terminan al final del “Middle Horizon” con las culturas de Tiwanaku y Wari.

Keywords:

• Anadenanthera
• vilca
• hallucinogen
• shamanism
• Paracas
• Nazca

Acknowledgments

I am deeply grateful to Christine Hastorf for her continued support and guidance, and for making this research so enjoyable and enriching. Additionally, I am appreciative of Constantino Manuel Torres, Melanie Miller, and Dennis McKenna for their support and encouragement. Lastly, special thanks to Patricia Knobloch and Donna Torres for their willingness to help with image permissions.