The Secrets of the Golden Mask: Tutankhamun Astonishes the World
King Tutankhamun ascended to the throne at the age of
nine and ruled until his death at around 18 years old. He became king in 1341
BC and passed away in 1323 BC, ruling for approximately 10 years.
The mask represents King Tutankhamun as Osiris, a deity
associated with the afterlife in ancient Egypt. Thus, it was not meant for
daily use but was designed to cover the head of the mummy, symbolizing the king
as Osiris. Despite this, the artist behind the mask insisted on giving the face
thick lips resembling those of Tutankhamun’s grandmother, Queen Tiye, possibly
due to her southern origins. The mask not only elevates Tutankhamun from king
to deity, but it also transforms him into the embodiment of Osiris. This
religious and funerary tradition is what inspired the creation of the mask.
The mask is made of pure gold, standing 54 cm tall and
weighing over 9 kilograms. It consists of two layers of gold that were joined
through hammering, and it is adorned with intricate engravings, polished to a
fine sheen, and encrusted with precious stones. The mask features the
traditional nemes headcloth, a well-known headdress in ancient Egypt
with its distinctive parallel stripes.
The mask includes a ceremonial beard, which does not
represent Tutankhamun’s actual beard but is instead the sacred beard of the
deity Osiris. The beard was inlaid with faience (Egyptian blue), though
the colors of this inlay have faded over time to a dull gray.
At the forehead of the mask, there are two symbols: the wadjet
cobra and the nekhbet vulture, representing protection and sovereignty.
Decorative lines on the mask, made of blue glass rather than the more precious
lapis lazuli, imitate the appearance of this prized stone. The question arises
as to why the ancient artist chose blue glass instead of genuine lapis lazuli.
It is possible that lapis lazuli was not available at the time, so the artist
substituted it with blue glass. The eyes of the mask are crafted from quartzite
and obsidian, or volcanic glass.
The necklace worn by the mask is composed of rows of
colorful glass pieces mimicking precious stones such as lapis lazuli, jasper,
and carnelian, along with obsidian. The necklace features 12 rows of these
materials. On the back of the mask, there are vertical lines of hieroglyphs
etched into the gold, containing a passage from the "Spell for Coming
Forth by Day," a significant funerary text from the New Kingdom. This
inscription, known as "Spell 151b," is a vital religious text that
appears on the back of the mask.
Above the mask's collar is a necklace made of gold and
faience beads, referred to in hieroglyphs as a "Shebyu." This
necklace was found attached to the collar of the mask, completing the sacred
and royal regalia of the king's funerary ensemble.