Qiru

A qiru[1][2] (also spelled kero, quero, and locally also qero) is an ancient Andean cup used to drink liquids like alcohol, or more specifically, chicha.

[3] The finely incised lines would meet at intersection points that collaborated to create shapes such as triangles, squares, and diamonds.

This followed the custom that two individuals were required to drink together and both qirus in the pair would have identical size, shape, and decoration.

The ritual importance of the kero is emphasized by the enormous stone stelas that can be found at the epicenter of the Tiwanaku state, Bolivia that contain renderings of qirus.

Chicha was served in qirus, where a special goblet version of the qiru was very closely connected to the "Sacrifice Ceremony" depicted on Moche painted ceramics.

These renderings allude to qirus' use as a pan-Andean offering receptacle for blood to be poured on the ground to guarantee a successful farming season.