Description
This mask was worn by a male soldier, but a Roman man would not have worn such long, carefully curled hair with a center part. The top-knot indicates it might represent Apollo, or possibly a female goddess like Aphrodite or Artemis. Because of the delicately outlined eyes and hairband, which originally included other materials such as gold, silver, or jewels, this was probably not worn in combat, but in a tournament or parade. We don’t know why the mask is shown with this hairstyle; it may relate to the military unit’s patron god or goddess, whose protection is invoked. Masks like this may also have been worn by soldiers in contests that re-enacted scenes of Greek myth and history.
Details
- Work Date:
- 75–125 CE
- Location:
- from Asia Minor
- Medium:
- Bronze
- Credit Line:
- The J. Paul Getty Museum (72.AB.105)