Mask

Object Details

Luce Center Label: Mummy masks were part of an elaborate burial ritual in ancient Egypt dating back thousands of years. The Egyptians believed that death was an interruption, rather than an end to life, and as a result they took many precautions to ensure the deceased was welcomed in the afterlife. Bodies were prepared to receive the ba, or spirit, and a mask would be placed over the head and shoulders of the mummy so that the spirit could recognize its host. The mask did not present a portrait of the individual, but instead showed a youthful, idealized image of what he or she would look like in the next world. The mummy and mask were then placed in a series of painted wooden coffins and surrounded by food, tools, and gifts. The masks were made from linen and plaster, and painted with images of the gods and spells to protect the body. Many masks were gilded to symbolize divinity, because the sun god Ra was believed to have a body of pure gold.

See more items in: Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department: Decorative Arts
On View: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor, 52A; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID (Link to Original Record): http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk782032260-2767-46fb-9bfb-969cd9991d07