We are still: second part

It seems that the Ñaupa has a lot to do with the mythical Andean feline. So Alfredo Mires tells us:

The myths of origin in the Andean world emphasizes the presence of the mythical feline as the "beginning of the lineage". The symbolic role of the jaguar and the puma is fundamental, also associated with lightning and the personification of "natural phenomena" (...).

In any case, looking at images of pumas or jaguars, it is not difficult to think that the character of the iconography in question coincides with the mythical feline. Although they will always be assumptions, the coincidence of eyes, "smile" and ears can give rise to the character represented.

It is obvious that, even being the puma, the character is -in general-, humanized, which would ratify the filiation and unity between nature, human community, time and deities in the religious-cultural base of the Andes.

If we follow the curvature of one of the callanas (earthenware), we could deduce the number of images that the original plate would have contained: there would be 24 characters that, with their pairs, would become 48, the 'perfect' number of the yach'aq (wise men, teachers or 'sorcerers'). When finding so many callanas in the ritual spaces, the question is whether the plates and bowls would not have contained offerings to placate the felines (a practice that is still observed today in the countryside to avoid aggression from the species).

Alfredo Mires in: El Ñaupa