Anthropomorphic mask

Masks, both made of stones (semi precious ones like jade or others) or ceramics, are associated with funerary and ritual contexts. They are believed to change the personality of those who wear it, by which they can acquire supernatural powers. They allow the contact between the mundane world and the Gods world. In the funerary context, the Teotihuacan (as well as many other groups in this area) produced masks in various materials, like the one shown here that is made in jade. This group placed the masks made of precious materials on the face of the noble lineage’s dead. On the other hand, the dead of lower classes had a disk placed in their mouth (usually made of jade) as an obol for the trip to the Beyond.