Sarcophagus

Sarcophagus mask, 1. Jahrhundert v. Chr.

About the object

The wooden sarcophagus mask was part of a mummy-shaped sarcophagus. The painted face isn't based on a specific likeness to a person, but is an idealised representation of the deceased. In the Egyptian belief system, preservation of the body of a deceased person was centrally important, as it would be needed for continuing life after death.
see less see more
The wooden mask was part of a mummy-shaped sarcophagus. The colour of the skin around the face has a yellowish hue. The black pupils and eyebrows stand out. Instead of dwelling on individual, recognisable features, the deceased is depicted in idealised form. In the Egyptian belief system, preserving the body was necessary in order to guarantee continued existence for the deceased in the afterlife. As a result, mummification was central to the Egyptian death cult. The sarcophagus provided additional protection for the mummified body as the new dwelling place of the body of the dead person. The masks also served the purpose of keeping the mummified person recognisable for its soul, which merged with the body every night. The sarcophagus mask was found in English archaeological excavations in Beni Hassan and found its way to Freiburg in1904 as a gift. Author: Lars Petersen, Translation: Timothy Connell

Object information

Ihre Nachricht

Ihre Nachricht zum Objekt

Ihre Nachricht zur Person