Mask of Tutankhamun

Mask of Tutankhamun
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Name	Mask of Tutankhamun
Caption	The funerary mask in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo.
Material	Gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian, quartz, obsidian, turquoise, glass
Size	Height: 54 cm (21 in)
Created	c. 1323 BC
Period	Eighteenth Dynasty
Place	Valley of the Kings, KV62
Discovered	28 October 1925
Location	Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza
Id	JE 60672

Mask of Tutankhamun. It is the principal funerary mask of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Discovered in his nearly intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1925, the mask has become a global icon of ancient Egypt and its funerary art. Crafted primarily from gold and inlaid with semi-precious stones and colored glass, it depicts the idealized features of the young king adorned with traditional royal and divine regalia.

Discovery and excavation

The mask was discovered on 28 October 1925 by the excavation team led by British archaeologist Howard Carter. This momentous find occurred during the systematic clearance of the Tomb of Tutankhamun, which Carter had first entered three years prior in the presence of his patron Lord Carnarvon. The mask was found within the innermost sarcophagus, placed directly over the head and shoulders of the king's mummified remains, which were housed within a series of nested coffins. The excavation was a monumental event in Egyptology, documented by photographer Harry Burton and generating worldwide media sensation through publications like The Times.

Description and materials

The mask stands 54 centimeters tall and weighs over 10 kilograms, constructed with two main alloys of gold: a higher-carat gold for the face and a lower-carat, more malleable alloy for the broad nemes headdress. The inlays include lapis lazuli for the stripes of the headdress and the eyebrows, quartz and obsidian for the eyes, carnelian for the red tones, and turquoise and colored glass paste for the broad usekh collar. The back features columns of hieroglyphs from spells in the Book of the Dead, invoking protection for the king's limbs by deities like Anubis and Horus.

Symbolism and iconography

The mask is a potent piece of religious symbolism, designed to ensure the king's transformation and protection in the afterlife. The nemes headdress, false beard, and the uraeus (depicting the goddesses Wadjet and Nekhbet) are all traditional symbols of pharaonic authority. The combination of gold, considered the flesh of the gods, and the protective inscriptions, identifies Tutankhamun with the sun god Ra and the lord of the underworld, Osiris. This iconography asserts his divine right to rule and his eternal rebirth.

Artistic and historical significance

Artistically, the mask represents the pinnacle of New Kingdom goldsmithing and is a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian art. Historically, it provides crucial evidence of the artistic and religious restoration that occurred after the reign of the "heretic" pharaoh Akhenaten, Tutankhamun's likely father. While its style largely returns to traditional Theban canons, subtle artistic nuances may reflect the preceding Amarna style. Its discovery fueled a renewed global fascination with Egyptian antiquity and remains a central artifact for understanding the late Eighteenth Dynasty.

Condition and conservation

For millennia, the mask remained in remarkable condition within the sealed environment of KV62. However, since its excavation, it has required careful conservation to address issues like the degradation of its inlays and previous, now-reversed, restoration attempts. A significant incident occurred in 2014 when the beard became detached and was improperly reattached with epoxy, necessitating a meticulous repair by a German-Egyptian conservation team at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It is now a centerpiece of the new Grand Egyptian Museum, displayed under strictly controlled environmental conditions to ensure its long-term preservation.

Category:Ancient Egyptian artefacts Category:Archaeological discoveries in Egypt Category:Funerary masks