Royal Tomb of the Lord of Sipan

In the 20th century, after the discovery of the Inca city of Machu Picchu (Peru) in 1911 and the Tomb of Tutankhamun (Egypt) in 1922, no other archaeological remains have moved the scientific world or the public. The discovery of the intact burial chamber dating back more than 1,700 years was discovered near a complex of adobe pyramids. There, the burial chamber of this Mochica King was found along with his entourage, a total of 7 people and 3 animals, surrounded by offerings, shields, ornaments and accessories, all of gold, decorated with precious stones and silver items, also textiles, knives, weapons, etc., more than 500 items in total.This ruler was a deity for his people (the same as a Pharaoh) for this reason, when he died, he voluntarily sacrificed his entourage to follow him into the afterlife. They were the people closest to him: his son (12 years old), 2 high-ranking royal guards (30 years old each), his wife (22 years old), 2 concubines (16 and 18 years old), 1 guard (25 years old), 1 tomb guard (30 years old), his pet, a hunting dog and 2 llamas (auquenidos).

Before the discovery of the tombs of Sipán, it was thought that the richly dressed characters seen in the discovered murals were mythological beings and deities. However, the discovery of the tomb of the Lord of Sipán revealed that these characters were real people with all their clothing as shown in the murals and that they held positions of power in the Moche society.