In a small village by the ocean, Quexo, the village shaman, stands at the temple of the fisherman, gazing out at the sea. It’s an unusually calm morning, and the lack of wind worries him. It’s the year 1400 BCE, and Quexo’s village is nestled in the dry desert between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The villagers rely on the sea for their livelihood. They gather reeds, dry them in the sun, and use them to build fishing boats. During the summer, the men sail out to catch fish, while the women collect shellfish and sea urchins. In winter, strong storms bring huge waves crashing onto the shore.
Most years, the village catches plenty of fish. But this year, the winds have stopped, and the fish are disappearing. Quexo has seen this happen before: first, the fish vanish, then heavy rains come, causing floods that destroy homes. He knows he must perform a special ritual to prevent the storms from arriving.
Unlike the other villagers, Quexo spends less time at sea. He became a shaman after witnessing a sign in the ocean, just like his father and grandfather. As the sun rises, he walks to a sacred mountain nearby to gather ceremonial cactus and herbs such as “horse tail,” “stonebreaker,” and valerian, along with the mineral hematite. Back in the village, everyone is getting ready to travel to a religious festival at a large temple inland. This festival usually marks the start of a season of plenty, but with the signs of storms, Quexo isn’t feeling very festive.
Whole families journey to the festival, camping for a few days. They bring seaweed, carved bones, gourd bowls, reed mats, and other items to trade at the market around the temple. Quexo checks the goods to ensure they are of the best quality. He plans to trade the herbs he collected for cinnabar, a mineral from the Andes highlands, which he needs for his ritual to stop the storms.
By lunchtime, the grand temple appears in the desert. People from the coast and foothills have gathered there. Women usually handle the trading, seeking cotton and ceramics, but shamans like Quexo are exceptions. Although he is a man, during rituals, he embodies both masculine and feminine qualities, allowing him more flexibility outside ceremonies.
Quexo can’t find cinnabar in the market, so he heads to the main temple, dodging children playing in the plaza. He dons his ceremonial outfit: red face paint, earrings, and a necklace made of shark’s teeth and vertebrae. Inside, ceremonies are already in progress, and the shamans have consumed the sacred cactus drink. Many are Quexo’s friends from past festivals, but he doesn’t see the mountain shamans who would have cinnabar. He starts to worry. If they don’t arrive, he’ll have to make a long, dangerous journey into the mountains, which takes five days—time he can’t afford to lose.
As he leaves the settlement, he spots a group approaching with llamas, identifying them as highlanders. He rushes to their shaman, offering hematite, dried seaweed, and empty shells to grind for lime and chew with coca leaves. In exchange, the other shaman gives him the precious cinnabar. With the key ingredient for his ritual, Quexo returns to the temple of the fisherman, hopeful that he can change the course of events and protect his village from the impending storms.
Imagine you are Quexo, the village shaman. Create a storyboard that illustrates a day in your life, highlighting key moments such as the morning at the temple, preparing for the ritual, and the festival. Use drawings or digital tools to bring your storyboard to life, and be ready to present your story to the class.
In groups, reenact the festival scene where Quexo trades for cinnabar. Assign roles such as Quexo, villagers, traders, and highlanders. Focus on the dialogue and negotiation process, and discuss how trade was essential for survival in Quexo’s time.
Research the role of shamans in ancient cultures, particularly in Peru. Prepare a short presentation on how shamans like Quexo influenced their communities and the significance of their rituals. Share your findings with the class.
Investigate the herbs and minerals mentioned in the article, such as “horse tail,” “stonebreaker,” valerian, and cinnabar. Create a poster that explains their uses and significance in ancient rituals. Include images and interesting facts to make your poster engaging.
Write a short story from the perspective of a villager in Quexo’s community. Describe your daily life, your interactions with Quexo, and your thoughts on the impending storm. Use descriptive language to convey the atmosphere and emotions of the time.
At the temple of the fisherman, Quexo, the village shaman, looks out over the ocean and frowns. It’s a still morning—unusually still—and the lack of wind is the latest in a series of troubling signs. The year is 1400 BCE. Quexo’s village sits in the dusty, treeless desert between the towering Andes and the Pacific Ocean. The villagers live off the sea, harvesting reeds, drying them in the sun, and using them to build fishing boats. Every day in the summer, the men set out on these boats to hunt fish while the women harvest shellfish and sea urchins. In winter, storms bring powerful waves that crash onto the shores. Most years, Quexo’s village catches more than enough fish. But this year, the winds have died down, and the fish have dwindled. Quexo has seen this pattern before: the fish disappear, then the violent rains arrive, causing flash floods that wash away settlements. He needs to stop the bad weather before the storms come—his only hope is a special ritual he’s been planning.
Quexo spends much less time in the ocean than the other villagers. He became a shaman after seeing a sign in the sea one morning—like his father and grandfather before him. This morning, he walks to the nearby sacred mountain as the sun rises. There, he gathers ceremonial cactus and herbs like “horse tail,” “stonebreaker,” and valerian, along with the mineral hematite. Back in the village, everyone is preparing to leave for a religious festival at a large temple inland. The festival marks the beginning of what is usually the season of abundance, but with the signs pointing to storms, Quexo isn’t feeling too celebratory. Whole families travel to the festival, where they camp for a few days. They’ve packed seaweed, carved bones, gourd bowls, reed mats, and other goods to trade in the market around the temple. Quexo inspects the goods to ensure everything is of the finest quality. He brings the herbs he gathered to trade for cinnabar, a mineral that comes from the highlands in the Andes. He needs cinnabar for his ritual to ward off the storms.
Around lunchtime, the sprawling temple rises out of the desert ahead. People have come from all along the coast and the foothills. The women handle trade transactions—they’re looking for cotton and ceramics. Men aren’t usually allowed to do the trading, but shamans are an exception. Though Quexo is a man, during rituals he embodies both masculine and feminine qualities, which makes his role more flexible outside ceremonies too. Quexo can’t find any cinnabar in the market, so he heads to the main temple, dodging children playing in the plaza. He puts on his ceremonial garb: red face paint, earrings, and a necklace of shark’s teeth and vertebrae. Inside, the ceremonies are already underway, and the shamans have consumed the sacred cactus drink. Many of them are Quexo’s friends from festivals over the years, but he doesn’t see the mountain shamans who would have cinnabar. He begins to panic. If the highland shamans don’t show up, his only option will be to make the long walk into the mountains. It’s a dangerous journey that takes five days, precious time he doesn’t have to waste. But perhaps he has no choice. He refuses the sacred cactus and sets off toward the mountains.
As he leaves the settlement behind, he sees a group approaching. He recognizes them as highlanders by their llamas. He dashes toward their shaman. Barely pausing to say hello, he offers him hematite, dried seaweed, and empty shells to grind up for lime and chew with coca leaves. In return, the other shaman gives him the precious cinnabar. With the key to his ritual in hand, Quexo heads home to the temple of the fisherman in hopes of turning the tide.
Shaman – A person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits, often using this ability for healing and guidance in a community. – The shaman performed a sacred ceremony to help the villagers connect with their ancestors.
Ritual – A set of actions performed mainly for their symbolic value, often as part of a religious or cultural ceremony. – The ancient ritual involved lighting candles and chanting prayers to honor the gods.
Temple – A building devoted to the worship of a god or gods, where religious activities are conducted. – The temple stood majestically on the hill, where people gathered to offer their prayers.
Festival – A day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons, marked by special observances and activities. – During the harvest festival, the community came together to celebrate with music and dance.
Trade – The action of buying, selling, or exchanging goods and services between people or countries. – Ancient civilizations often engaged in trade, exchanging spices and textiles along the Silk Road.
Ocean – A vast body of salt water that covers almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface, playing a crucial role in climate and trade. – Explorers set sail across the ocean to discover new lands and establish trade routes.
Storms – Severe weather conditions characterized by strong winds, rain, thunder, and lightning, often impacting historical events and journeys. – The fleet was delayed by fierce storms that battered the coast for days.
Herbs – Plants with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume, often significant in historical healing practices. – Ancient healers used a variety of herbs to treat illnesses and promote health.
Cinnabar – A bright red mineral consisting of mercury sulfide, historically used as a pigment and in alchemy. – Artists in ancient China used cinnabar to create vibrant red paints for their masterpieces.
Villagers – People who live in a small community in the countryside, often working together in agriculture or crafts. – The villagers gathered in the square to discuss the upcoming harvest and plan the festival.
