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Egyptians believed immortality was possible only if the deceased’s ba, or spirit, recognized the mummy in the tomb. Even if the actual head were lost or damaged, a mask guaranteed the reunion could still take place.

This mask presents an idealized Egyptian whose features the gods would know.

Details

  • Title: Man's Mummy Mask Man's Mummy Mask
  • Location: Not Given, Egypt (not certain), Africa (not certain)
  • Physical Dimensions: 29 cm x 22 cm
  • Type: Mask
  • Rights: This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. The image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. http://www.si.edu/termsofuse
  • External Link: View this object record in the Smithsonian Institution Collections Search Center
  • USNM Catalog Number(s): A553190-0, A553190-0
  • Photo Credit: Eric Long, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History & Smithsonian Institution Archives
  • Historic Period: 200 - 30 B.C., Ptolemaic Period
  • Field: Archaeology
  • Accession Date: 1992-08-28

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