The Characteristics Of The Mask Of Agamemnon

1. Mask of Agamemnon, size 12” (35cm), Location Mycenae, Greece, Date 1600-1500 BCE. The medium used is Gold.

Hip Pendant of the Iyoba (Queen Mother) Idia, size 9 3/8 (23.8), Location Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, Date 16th Century CE. Medium Ivory, iron, and copper.

2. The Mask of Agamemnon illustrates the flat face of a man, the color is gold since is made out of gold material. The face is long and you can appreciate a wide forehead. The nose, however, has dimension, it is fine and pointy. The lips are thin and closed shut. In addition, you can appreciate the eyebrows that are thin and shaped with parallel lines. The face in this mask has a mustache and what looks like a beard, that is defined by lines. You can also appreciate the cheeks
Both of the masks physically differ from one another since The Mask of Agamemnon is more flat in shape and wider than the Hip Pendant of the Iyoba. In addition, the ears are definitely different from the one from the Mask of Agamemnon, they are very much separated from the face. The nose is also different in shape, the Agamemnon mask is more thin and pointy and the mask if Iyoba is wider and the nose holes are much wider. Furthermore, the Mask of Agamemnon has no visible hair and the eyes are shut, while in the Mask of Iyoba the eyes are wide open and there is visible hair.

4. The masks are similar in appearance because they both depict a lot of detail in the ears you can clearly appreciate the ear folds and each of the mask. Both of the mask show complete facial features such as two eyes, a nose, lips a chin, cheeks and a forehead.

5. The mask of Agamemnon is three-dimensional and wide in shape. There are straight lines that depict the mustache, the eyebrows and beard. The eyebrows are arched in shape. The beard has a triangular shape. In addition, there is a single straight line across the center of the eyelid. The eyes are oval in shape. The chin has a circular shape. Overall the mask has a highly saturated look, it looks so vivid and it has a pure hue since its made out of gold. The ears are overlapping the face. The textured looks hammered and
An Iyoba refers to the title of Queen Mother and this title is given to the woman who bears the “Oba” or first son, which is the future ruler of the kingdom. The “Iyoba” is believed to never have any other children and devote her life to raising the one son. Idia held the title of Iyoba while Esige was the Oba. She played an important role in her son's life since she helped to negotiate the end of the war during her son's reign. To honor her; her son gave her the title of Iyoba (Queen Mother) and it is believed that in order to commemorate her, her son Esigie “ is said to have worn the mask as a pectoral during rites”. Up to date, similar pendants are worn during spiritual