Gazing upon this powerful portrait, we immediately gain an understanding of the sitter. His proud expression and the broad, aristocratic plains of his face remind us of the benign arrogance of other ancient royalty, most especially the pharaohs of Egypt whose colossal images were carved in stone. The portrait vessel represents Moche art at its most refined. In some cases, the vases were buried with the individuals whose image they bear; in other instances, the portraits of kings, priests and chieftains were buried with other nobles as a mark of honor and respect. We do not doubt for a moment that this individual was a person of rank and importance in his world. We cannot help but accord him proper respect in our own.