King Tut Mask - The Golden Death Mask of Tutankhamun
The Ancient Egyptians were obsessed with the prospect of life after death - the eternal afterlife. The Ancient Egyptians used elaborate masks to great effect. Egyptian masks were generally used as Death Masks and Ritual Masks. The fabulous King Tut Mask was a death mask. Royal death masks or burial masks such as the fabulous death mask of Tutankhamun, the boy King Tut, were made of gold in the image of the deceased. The King Tut mask was used to cover the face of the mummy of the pharaoh and ensure that his spirit would be able to recognize the body.
Gold King Tut Mask - Description of the Death Mask of Tutankhamun
The King Tut Mask, which is pictured above, depicts an actual likeness of the young Tutankhamun. The King Tut Mask weighs ten kilos, 24lbs and measures 54 cm (21 in) in height and 15 inches wide. The workmanship is quite exquisite and its value is priceless. It is made of gold which is inlaid with semi-precious stones, coloured glass paste and the eyes are made with obsidian and quartz. The back of the mask is chased with a series of spells and texts from the Book of the Dead. The mask was placed directly on the mummy of King Tut inside the third coffin housed in the sarcophagus.
