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The Mask - Theatrical Ancient Athenian Angora 3rd Cent. A.D.
The Mask, strictly so-called, is an artificial, hollow face, intended to be
placed in front of, and to conceal the human countenance so as to make the
wearer unrecognizable or to characterize in some special way. The use of the
Mask dates back to the popular Harvest games of the earliest Greek period.
From these games, the Mask is believed to have been transferred to the
ancient theatre, in which the actors all appeared masked. Different classes
of Masks were recognized: tragic, comic, &c. Definite types of Masks were
connected with definite characters and “persons”. The mouth-openings of
these Masks were unnaturally large and shaped like a bell-mouth, so as to
reinforce the voice of the speaker.
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