I have done some more research on the Moche and they have an amazing culture. It is also noted how many Moche websites I found which I had to read Spanish. There was plenty of information about the Moche available, though there are still some information which is still misunderstood.
They had a very indepth culture. Deeply religious and they believed their main diety was the diety of the moon (Si), therefore almost all sacrifices occured on the "Huaca de La Luna." The "Temple of the Moon" as it is translated into was the staging ground of almost all Moche Sacrifices, and it is from this place where most of the Moche's history (As read on Pottery) and of it's culture is known. It is also the place where they found many sacrifical bodies; (Point of Interest).
The Diety of the Moon also commanded the Moon Virgins, who were highly thought of people in Moche Society. As well, the Priest/Priestess is said to be a connection to the Moon Diety, therefore they were very highly thought of as well. As well, it is believed that the Sun Diety (Re) may have also played a role, though Moche People might have thought that the Sun Diety was too powerful to meddle in the affairs of the Moche. Or, it is possible that the Moche thought of the Sun as evil, and that the moon was good. Anyhow, as I stated before the Main diety was Si, the Moon Diety. However, this is unlike the Inca, because the Inca believed that the Sun Diety was the Main Diety while the Moon Diety was the Sun Diety's wife. Therefore, we have yet to know if the Moche Had both the Sun Diety (Re) and the Moon Diety (Si) as their main Dietys. Another Diety to mention is The Sea Diety (Ni) who was a powerful force, though may have not been as worshipped as the Moon and Sun Dietys.
Therefore, it's easy to conclude that the Moche Pantheon was made up of 3 dietys. Si (The Moon Diety, often the diety of which sacrifices occured for), Re (The Sun Diety, possibly the all powerful diety) and Ni (The Sea Diety, who controlled the seas and was very much like Posieden).
However, this conclusion may be inaccurate for the Moche's had 5 phases in History. Each Phase had a different development in art and in Culture, therefore could have easily had changes made in Religion. One theological idea is that in the first phase there was the Supreme Diety, The Son of the Supreme Diety of which had families of dieties. While a diety who appears in later phases is "The Radiant Diety" who is very much like a God of War. The reason that the Radiant Diety was popular in the last phases, could have easily been that the Moche were going to War more often, capturing or being captured and sacrificed to the gods.
There is also rumour of a one god system sometime during the Moche History. This diety, known as "ai apaec," was associated with the priests and individuality. It is also noted that many Archeologists believe that the Moche may have developed Shamanism, the belief of being healed by different herbs and spirituality. As well, it is noted that on some pottery there are images of animals being dieties. This may be 'mythological unit' type characters or they may either be demons or dieties for the Moche Religion.
Another thing that occured in Moche religion is the most known, Sacrifice. They did acts which modern society would find appaling and dispicable. They sacrificed not only Enemies or Prisoners of Wars (Who were kept alive), but their own people, (Men Mostly) and the losers of an infamous ball game played around Meso-America. However, the dead were usually given offerings and would be remembered by the Moche Civilization as giving themselves to the gods. Sacrifice was achieved for many unknown reasons. It could be to stop El Nino, or to heal someone, among other things.
It is also noted that the Main Herb for the Moche was Coca, which could easily highten a Moche's endurance during the harsh climates in Peru and possibly Healing if Shamanism occured. Though we still don't know. It is also noted that the Moche were thought to do Spiritual Dancing to heal and to offer to the gods. At times, Spiritial Dancing could include the skeletons of the Sacrificed people.
So as you can see, not only did the Moche have a deep culture among the fact of an interesting Sacrificial regime which involved sports. They also had a religion that could easily be developed into AoM.
Sorry for the crudeness of the quote. I just copied and pasted it from one of my previous threads.[This message has been edited by Sunshine (edited 07-28-2002 @ 07:45 PM).]