Marble Theatrical Mask
Marble Theatrical Mask
2004-09-22
Name/Title
Marble Theatrical MaskEntry/Object ID
02H0472Description
Mask representing a character from the New Comedy era of Greek theatre. Closed eyes and mouth holes.Type of Sculpture
OtherArtwork Details
Medium
PlasterContext
Represents a character from a comedy. As the antithesis of the tragic mask, the comedy mask embodies the carefree, crude, and satirical persona of the character. The masks draw their origins from the Cult of Dionysus, which the theatre was associated. Theatrical masks were said to have added resonance to the voice of an actor so that everyone in the theater could hear him. Greek plays generally had 1-3 male actors, so the masks were essential for the actors to portray different characters and females. The mask could also give the character a sort of universality, allowing audiences to judge him based on his actions.Made/Created
Date made
99 BCE - 1 BCETime Period
HellenisticEthnography
Culture/Tribe
Greek - Hellenistic