Funerary Mask, Mycenaean
Factual Information:
From: Grave Circle A, Mycenae, Greece
Period: 1600-1500 BCE
Period: 1600-1500 BCE
General information:
This gold mask was found in a burial site artifact discovered at Mycenae by Heinrich Schliemann. The artifact is a funeral mask found on a bodies face in a burial shaft. The mask itself was one of five discovered in the same grave site. What is interesting is that all the men found in the grave site were not covered in masks. That they were men is suggested by the quantities of weapons and gold found in their graves that indicate honor wealth and status. The mask itself also contributes to the evidence that these people in the grave site were important people, as the material is gold, and the mask shows features that were indicative of honor and importance, such as the beard, and expressionless face.
Why This Artwork?
This artwork is chosen because of the importance of its finding. This was one of the first indication of finding important people of Mycenae, giving an important glimpse into how their important people were treated in death.