Friday, September 14, 2012

King Tut's Mask: a giant, golden doo rag and strap-on beard


King Tut's Mask
Originally uploaded by v.williams46
Are you aware that the blue-striped head gear that swaths the boy king's face represents a fabric wrap? Starched and folded carefully, this is essentially a doo rag with elaborate tails.

Note the cobra and vulture, symbols of power, above his head.

The blue stripes in the head gear are not made of gemstones. The material is one of the earliest forms of glass. Later Egyptians would lose the formula for making glass. Centuries went by before the Egyptians returned to glass making.

Tut's eyes would have been outlined with kohl, one of the world's earliest cosmetics. In the golden mask the outlining was done via the stone lapis lazuli.

The stylized chin beard, called a postiche by Europeans, was a symbol of divinity. Narrow and representing a plaited beard, it was added (by wire or ribbon) to the Pharaoh's face for ceremonial occasions. Female Pharaoh's - there were few of them - also appeared in public wearing the postiche (which means "something false.")

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