The ancient Egyptians practiced embalming the deceased to preserve the body (or khat) and ensure the deceased's transition to the afterlife (or Duat). A vital part of this process was covering the head of the mummy with a funerary mask. The mask served a crucial religious function: to provide a recognizable portrait of the individual, ensuring their ka (life force) and ba (soul/personality) could reunite with the body and guarantee the dead's eternal existence.
Materials and Evolution
The construction of these masks evolved over millennia. Early masks were made from a material called cartonnage, which was composed of layers of linen or papyrus stiffened with plaster (gesso), often placed over a wooden base.
Old Kingdom / Early Intermediate Period (c. 2700–2040 BC) - The earliest masks found, dating back over 4000 years, were often simple and highly stylized or idealized, focusing less on individual features and more on divine perfection.
New Kingdom (c. 1550–1070 BC) - Masks reached a peak of artistry and craftsmanship, reflecting the wealth and power of the empire. They became more intricate and expressive.
Class Distinction and Decoration
The materials and quality of decoration clearly distinguished the social status of the deceased:
Common People and Non-Royals
For common citizens, masks were typically made of the painted cartonnage. The colors used followed specific conventions:
Red ochre was generally used for the skin of men.
Yellow ochre was generally used for the skin of women.
Blue and black pigments were commonly used for framing the eyes, eyebrows, and wigs.
Royalty and Aristocracy
The masks of the elite, particularly the pharaohs, were crafted from incredibly precious and durable materials. These materials were symbolic, representing the flesh of the gods:
Gold was used for the skin, symbolizing the flesh of the gods and immortality.
Lapis lazuli or colored glass inlays were used for the hair, beard, and eyebrows, in honor of the god Osiris, the divine ruler who presided over the dead and the journey through the underworld.
The Most Famous Example
The most celebrated funerary mask is that of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty), who died around 1323 BC. This monumental artifact was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter and his archaeological team.
Tutankhamun's mask is a spectacular example of royal funerary art. Weighing approximately 10 kilograms of solid gold, it is inlaid with numerous semi-precious stones and colored glass, embodying the Egyptian belief that the deceased pharaoh achieved divine status upon death.
