WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
At a weight of around 24 pounds, the death mask of Tutankhamun is meant to present what the young king looked like. The facial features visible on this mask have a likeness to those of the mummy under it. Around the face of the mask is a blue and gold nemes headdress with a cobra and a vulture sitting on top of the brow. The mask covers his head and shoulders. There’s an inscription on his shoulders as well as the back of his head which is a spell first seen on masks in the Middle Kingdom. A plaited beard comes out from his chin. There is an elaborate collar on his chest with the ends in falcon heads.
WHAT WAS IT MADE OUT OF?
It’s made out of 1 sheet of gold with 150 items of ritual jewellery. Other materials include, quartz, coloured glass and faince.
WHAT WAS IT USED FOR?
The ancient Egyptians believed in having a peaceful and undisturbed afterlife. For this reason, this Death Mask of King Tutankhamun was not only used to cover and protect his head and shoulders, but it was also used so that his spirit would be able to recognise his body in the afterlife, hence why it was made in his image.
WHAT DOES IT REPRESENT?
The use of gold for the skin of the pharaoh represents eternity and eternal life for gold does not decay or erode and last forever. The vulture is a symbol of sovereignty over Upper Egypt as well as the goddess Nekhbet. The cobra is a symbol of sovereignty over Lower Egypt and is associated with the goddess Wadjet. These two goddesses were known together as the “two ladies of the pharaoh” whose purpose was to protect the pharaoh. The false beard was sacred to the gods and consequently the pharaohs. This false beard on the mask of Tutankhamun embodies his status as a living god.