Chapter 5 / King Tut's Mask

Egypt / c. 1327 B.C.

King Tutankhamen ruled in the 18th dynasty in Egypt and died around the year 1327 B.C. In 1922 his tomb was rediscovered, along with his elaborate burial mask, pictured above. The mask was laid directly on the face of King Tut. The entire mask is made completely of gold with inlaid semi precious stones, colored glass paste, and obsidian and quartz for the eyes. The mask weighs 24 pounds and is 21 inches in height and 15 inches wide. The mask was placed inside the third coffin and in the sarcophagus. It is currently one of the most well known artifacts worldwide. Although it is centuries old, the colors are still vibrant and impressive looking. The face of the mask was made to look like the dead boy-king so that when his spirit returned it would be able to recognize him.

The mask wears a typical stripped nemes headdress, one that would have been worn in life by King Tut. The top includes a cobra and a vulture, who are emblems of deities. The eye makeup resembles similar makeup that the king would have worn in his life. The mask also features a fake beard, similar to the one he would have worn. The collar of the mask is made with feldspar, quartz, lapis lazuli and colored glass. The back of the mask has elaborate spell inscriptions. They were inscribed using a method called chasing, and there are ten vertical and two horizontal lines of protective spells from The Book of the Dead.

Just looking at images of the mask evoke awe. It is fascinating that an ancient mask can still be beautiful and shining to this day. The colors are brilliant and still very vivid. It is amazing that something so old can still be so amazing and powerful.