The Funeral Mask of King Tutankhamen

Perhaps one of the intimately terrible finds in Egyptian archeology is the grave of tycoon Tutankhamen. Howard C maneuverer, the archaeologist whose subsequent remnant fueled speculation of the actuality of the mummys curse, discovered it in 1923 (Tutankhamun, par. 2). Most healthy known beca map it was largely intact at the time of its opening, the site gives modern viewing earreach a r ar insight into the tone and death of a pharaoh.Today, the tomb the Great Compromiser shrouded in fascination as wad in all over the world piffle displays of the arti features retrieved from the crypt. According to the National purport of Art, archaeologists retrieved lv items from the site, and among the items, King Tutankhamens Funeral block out is possibly the most recognized (par. 1). It is also the most stunning example of Egyptian art recovered from the tomb.The bury of King Tutankhamen, divulge known as King Tut, is a large headpiece with the face of the teen faggot, half- hearted over the head and shoulders of the deceased. The full secrete is made of solid coin with inlaid blue glass and stones that name horizontal lines along the right and left over(p) sides of the head, down to the shoulders. This blue and gold stripy headdress, also known as a nemes, which is a majestic head textile to be worn only by the superannuated kings ( devastation Mask, cap. 1).On the hilltop portion of the nemes are two dandy statuettes, one of a vulture and other of a cobra. According to experts, the vulture, Nekhbet, and the cobra, Wadjet, protected the pharaoh ( destruction Mask, par 1). On the back, the lines of the nemes converge at the bottom, in the center. The piece spares no detail, including the eyeliner worn by the old-fashioned king.As a piece of Egyptian art, the Funeral Mask shows masterful use of the divisions of design. The use of color is precisely exquisite. Blue, gold, red and black, which comprise the piece, are all the same colors workative of royalty today. The use of line and space on the sides and catch create the illusion that the adolescent king was large and imposing. In addition, the level of isotropy and balance in the piece is textbook. However, by chance the most overtly reasonful element in the piece is the use of symbols.Iconography and symbols are key to understanding the artists and the subject. The shape of this block out itself is reminiscent of the cobra, ostensibly representative of his power and fierceness. Also, the lines along the sides of the nemes seem to reflect the count on of sunrays. In fact, it appears as if the rays of the sun were emit from the kings face. The sun idol did play a large character in ancient Egyptian religion, barely it is also possible that this represents the artists love of their young pharaoh.The most obvious symbols on the fancy dress are of the cobra and vulture. Other than their use for King Tuts protection, they may also represent his adherence to the old religions. According to Britannica cyclopaedia, serpent, vulture, and sphinx are all motif symbols tied up with such religious deliriums as the cult of the pharaohs and the gods and the cult of the dead (par. 2).Considering the animals religious affiliation, and the fact that Tutankhamen spent his short reign reestablishing the several(a) god religions of the past, one essential ruminate as to the animals religious significance as well (Tutankhamun, par. 5). Perhaps these two point animals were representatives of the gods that the pharaoh worshiped.Above all, these artists give the impression of dread for King Tutankhamen in the medium chosen. The entire work is comprised of precious metals and stones that are historically synonymous with wealth and power. Goldsmiths spent a great do it of time nuance and molding the metal, while small stones were thinning and polished by hand to fit in together almost seamlessly in the piece.Today, non only would the piece b e costly to recreate, it would also be somewhat laborious. tear down with the use of modern tools, the work would be tedious at best. While it must come been somewhat difficult to fall upon this level of work, without these elements the image of their king would have been somewhat dimmed. Although the Funeral Mask would have been exquisite even in clay, ancient craftsmen utilize materials fit for a pharaoh.Furthermore, ancient artisans evidently put a great deal of care into making their pharaohs mask a true representation of the ruler. It appears that their promise was to represent the king accurately and strongly in the afterlife. Although their belief was that Tutankhamen would carry all the elements of his tomb into the underworld, they fitted him perfective aspectly for presentation to an audience thousands of years later with all the wealthiness one would expect to accompany such a powerful man as pharaoh of ancient Egypt. Even today, the Funeral Mask awes visitors wit h its royal visage.While some of the elements, such as facial features, seem crude on the surface and lacking realism, they are perfect in their simplicity. Thousands of years later, the artistry of the mask is virtually unmatched. Modern artists and goldsmiths would find the ask recreation of the mask difficult, if non improbable. When have with the use of color, line, and symbols used by the ancient Egyptians, the mask is perfect.Twenty-first century artisans could not complete such an important toil more appropriately. When given the commission of conception a similar piece, with the originality of this one, most artists would go away to find such a spick balance of elements and design, which makes King Tutankhamens Funeral Mask the most superb piece of ancient Egyptian artwork found in the tomb, and perhaps even the world.Works CitedDeath Mask of King Tutankhamun. King Tutankhamun by Wysinger. 27 walk 2007. .Jewelry. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 27 March 2007. .NGA Treasures of Tutankhamun. National Gallery of Art. 27 March 2007. .Tutankhamun. 27 March 2007. Wikipedia.com. 27 March 2007. .