Mummy Mask

In ancient Peruvian religious thought, the dead inhabited the realm of the living, their spirits and preserved bodies nourishing future generations. Deceased ancestors were preserved in order to take part in ongoing ritual life. The Wari, for example, formed mummy bundles with the bodies of elites. Individuals were placed in a seated position, wrapped in numerous layers of cloth, and dressed in elaborate textiles. Mummy bundles were then topped with false heads, such as the mask seen here. The feather mask’s open eyes, brightly colored face, and realistic hair communicate the living essence of the deceased person it covered.