Roman Mummy Mask

One of the features of Egyptian funerary practices that persisted throughout most of the civilization was the use of mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪. Mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 first appeared during the First Intermediate Period (c. 2181 B.C.E.), and were last used during the Roman Period (c. 395 AD). While the styles certainly changed, their purpose of protecting 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 the mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 remained the same. While the function of the mummy masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 remained the same throughout Egyptian history, there are many different styles! Let’s take a look at this particular Roman Mummy Mask at the Brooklyn Museum!

The function of protection 𓅓𓂝𓎡𓀜 is made explicit by Spell 151 from the Book of the Dead 𓉐𓂋𓏏𓂻𓅓𓉔𓂋𓏲𓇳𓏺𓍼𓏺. Spell 151 also restores the ability of the dead 𓅓𓏏𓏱 to see through the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾. Spell 151 even appears on the back of the mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 of Tutankhamun 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓏏𓅱𓏏𓋹𓋾𓉺𓇓! 

This mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 is from the Roman Period, and it’s always so interesting to see the merging of the two 𓏻 different styles. The mask is made of cartonnage (kind of like paper mache) and is covered in gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 leaf, which is typical of Ptolemaic/Roman masks. The mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾 is wearing a nemes 𓈖𓅓𓋴 style headdress, and Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓇋𓁛 (the winged scarab 𓐍𓊪𓂋𓂋𓆣) can be seen on the head 𓁶𓏺. Khepri 𓆣𓂋𓀭, god 𓊹 of the rising sun 𓇳𓏺, is a symbol of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱.

What makes this mask 𓅱𓇋𓀾 so beautiful 𓄤 are all of the small details in the gold 𓋞𓃉𓃉𓃉 leaf. The most prominent is the deceased (as a mummy 𓇋𓁹𓅱𓀾) standing before 𓐍𓂋 Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭. The protective cobras 𓇋𓂝𓂋𓏏𓆘𓏪 also adorn the mask. Daisies/Rosettes are seen as decoration along with the Wedjat-eyes 𓂀 on each side. Both of these are also symbols of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱! Symbols of rebirth 𓄟𓍿𓅱 were important to place on funerary equipment because the deceased wanted to be reborn in the afterlife 𓇼𓄿𓏏𓉐, just like Osiris 𓁹𓊨𓀭 was. 

During Roman times, masks 𓅱𓇋𓀾𓏪 were mass produced in workshops so it is unlikely that this mask represents a specific person. 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.