Theatrical mask
Theatrical mask
Date2nd century CE
Mediumterracotta
Dimensionsobject: 10 × 7 1/2 × 4 in. (25.4 × 19.1 × 10.2 cm)
object with base: 13 in. (33 cm)
ClassificationMATERIAL CULTURE
Credit LineSBMA, Gift of Robert M. Light and Donald Outerbridge
Object number1998.67.6
Subject(s)
- heads and faces
Collection
- Antiquity
Sub-Collection(s)
- Roman
On View
On viewLabel TextThis mask represents tragedy which was one of the genres of ancient Greek and Roman theater, along with others such as comedy, pantomime, and satyr plays. It is life-size and has three small holes, one on either edge near the mouth and a third at the top above the forehead. Ancient Roman frescoes and reliefs show that masks were sometimes hung up in gardens and in indoor spaces, possibly as part of the cult practice related to the god of wine and theater, Dionysus. This object likely came from a sanctuary or a tomb, where it was deliberately buried and was able to survive almost two thousand years.
