ANCIENT ART
THE MASK OF
AGAMEMNON
DESCRIBE THE WORK
ANALYZE THE ARTWORK
INTERPRET THE ARTWORK
WHEN, HOW, AND WHY IT
OCCURED,
OR WHAT IS THE CONTEXT
The mask of Agamemnon was one of the most famous
gold artifacts from the Greek bronze age. It is a gold
funeral mask made between 1600 and 1500 BCE
employing the repoussé method, in which the metal is
pounded to produce a raised pattern. This mask was
discovered by Heinrich Schliemann.
The Mask of Agamemnon is a magnificent work of ancient Mycenaean
workmanship that displays extraordinary talent in metals and
goldsmithing. Even though it is a simple stylized image of a bearded
face, it exudes solemnity and respect, probably reflecting the person's
social standing. As a funeral artefact, it not only pays respect to the
departed but also offers a concrete connection to the rich cultural and
aesthetic legacy of Bronze Age Greece.
With its intricate detailing and lifelike expression, the "Mask of
Agamemnon," a famous archaeological find from Mycenae, Greece, is
a golden death mask thought to have belonged to a Mycenaean
nobleman. This artifact stands as a powerful symbol of ancient Greek
culture, providing a glimpse into their artistic and funerary practices.
At the ancient Greek city of Mycenae, Heinrich Schliemann, a
German archaeologist, made the discovery of the Agamemnon
Mask in 1876. The mask itself is more than 3,000 years old and
dates to the Late Helladic era, about 1600–1500 BCE. I don't
know why they created it, but my best guess is that it was a part
of their tradition, to make and mold the mask in memory of a
recently deceased person.