Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-09-09
MASKS AND FACES.

MaShS are OF very ancient origin. III
Il tomb 5000 years old at Mycenae, DR..
SchlieIrann found two bodies with
faces covered by masks of gold. One of
the masks represented the head of Il
lion. Among the ancient Greeks the
lion mask was Il sign of distinction;
with the PeruNians of old it was Il mark
of royal lineage. In a grave OF consid-
cradle antiquity III IeIu Il silver mask
was found on the head of q mummy.
The mummy Of Il prince, who lived in
the reign of RameSeS ii, discovered in
Il small vault at Memphis, in Egypt,
had a mask of gold all over the face.
The Egyptians believed that human
life had It's seat IN the head. In order
that the dead person should not really
perish altogether, reproductions of the
form and particularly of the face of the
defunct We're provided for the soul 10
take up Il residence i'll. rs many as 40
such images have been found in n single
tomb, and tor the same object rich PEG.
pie had numerous statues made tC rep
resent themselves as we'll as the dear
departed. Owing to the peIpetuati0n of
this notion that carved and Scrllpturcd
figures Of human beings are occupied
by spirits, it is very difficult to find Il
statue i'll Egypt today that has not been
more or less Gcfacod and broken by the
natives, who imagine that III this man
he" they can render such spirits power
less to narm them.
To perpetuate the viSage of the dead
it was reproduced in the wood or stone
Of the case which inclosed the mummy.
All the features were. made compete.
i'll order that the defunct person could
SEQ. hear and taste. In ancient Peru,
during periods o. public calamity, the
faces If the gods We're covered With
masks. The worship OF the head is car
ried to IN exaggerated point il. the GU
l1ouS Indian myth, which describes the
earth Us Il bodylcSs head, rolling along
the flaming plains. Among the Indians
OF North America many strange beliefs
are held respecting demon heads th;. t
wander about, sometimes hITlulesS!y,
and 1T other times for malignant p,lr-
poses. Some of them are of gigantic
size. with wings, While others nave
faces of fire.
There used to be Il society among the
Irouuois. organized for tile DllrI,oSe of
propitiating these extraordinary tellorS
The later. according to popular concep-
ton. most commonly moved about from
tr"e to tree in solitary places. where
they were apt to be encountered. much
T.. M Ill
women who Glanced to be alone in the
forest. Few things can be imagined
more diSa gree able than to meet uncN-
pectedly i'll the woods 4 great head siy
feet high. without legs. arms or body.
Occasionally these remarkable creatures
would talk. but it was chiefly at night
that they had Il fiery aspect. their IA
vorite nocturnal hauntS being marshes
and pools. Members of the exercising
societies wore masks in imitation of the
heads. when they performed cercmo-
MES for the purpos" of driving such
demons away. OF course the fire faces
were of 'igncs fatui'' which haunt
moist places.
Savage tribes very commonly make
use Of masks. Among the Zllnis at the
ceremony of the 'kOkko'' various indi-
vidllals get themselves up to represent
the different gods. On dOnning bis
mask the actor becomes not ONLY the
representative of the god, but is en-
lowed with some of the functions and
powers of the divinity Among other
things. he is given the breath of the
sod. BY the Makah Indians masks rep
rcSenting the head Of the Thunder Bird
are worn, the nose of the wearer being
covered by a long beak. In the bear
dances pracuCed by many tribes tn !
heads of those Who participate are GOV
cred with masks taken from the heads
ct bears. and likewise used TO be in the
''buffalo Dances" The medical man.
while performing his magical rites. com
monty covers his head with a bears
n ask. Many Indian masks are made to
the heads of different kinds
Of birds.
The natural configuration of many
mountains suggests the human face. |
and such phySiognomies cut out of the |!
rocks on gigantic scale. are commonly |
regarded by savages as objects of wor- !
ship. Ellen Russell Emerson. to whom
the writer is much indebted. saws that
the Thunder Bird of the Thlinkits is !,
described by them as a giant man. |,
dwelling IN the sacred hills. When in ,
Want of food he provides himself with
4 pair Of wings and a mask in the shane ,
IF a binds head, the latter having a I
jeak as sharp rs a knife and "a toneua .
hat makes fire" Thus arrayed the god !
spreads his wings and sails over the
,cean in search Of a whale By his side |
md attached to his waist is the light |
hing demon, which darts upon the prev
md fctches 1t to the hungry god.
In the ancient Greek drama. as is
well known. the actors used commonly
70 wear masks representing the gods
md heroes Aristophanes burlesqued
his practice, bringing upon the stage
a chorus In masks depicting frogs.
vasps and other animals. In the dia-
ogue Peisthtarios says to Epops:
Pray tel me, where are your feath-
ers:" To which Epops. who has the
head of a bird and a featnerless body.
'eplies: 1T is the melting season"
French florists are cultiyating a plant
which hears flower that is white in