What does Aztec masks represent?
The Importance of the Mask During human sacrifices, the masks would symbolize death, and they were the main component of the Aztec religion. Some of the gods that the Aztec natives prayed to are Tlaloc (The Rain God), Huitzilopochtli, (The patron God of the Aztecs), Xipe Totec, (the Flayed Lord), and hundreds more.
What was the Aztecs masks made out of?
The mask itself could be made of green or black stone, wood, obsidian (a hard dark volcanic glass/stone), or even placed on a real human skull. Common mosaic materials were turquoise, obsidian, gold pyrite, coral, and shell. Sometimes the mask would simply have inlaid teeth and eyes.
Why did the Aztecs make skull masks?
The masks, along with the 30 unmodified skulls, date back to the reign of emperor Axayacatl (AD 1468–1481). Decorative human skull masks were made to be worn over the face or as a part of a headdress, and left as offerings to the deceased.
When were the Aztec masks made?
1400-1521 CE. It is made from hundreds of small pieces of turquoise glued onto a cedar wood base and was meant to be either worn by a god impersonator in religious ceremonies or worn by an effigy of the god.
Where are Aztec masks from?
Used more for collections than costumes, Aztec masks were an important part of Mexican culture during the empire that gave them their name.
Why are masks important in history?
Earliest use of masks was for rituals and ceremonies, and the oldest found mask is from 7000 BC. In West Africa, they are used in ceremonies which purpose is to communicate with ancestral spirits. They are made out of wood, with great skill and such masks are used in ritual masquerades of Edo, Yoruba and Igbo cultures.
Who made the Aztecs’ turquoise masks?
We know from a tribute list issued by the emperor Moctezuma II that ten turquoise mosaic masks, made by skilled Mixtec artisans, were sent each year from a province in Oaxaca. *The people and culture we know as “Aztec” referred to themselves as the Mexica (pronounced “Mé-shee-ka”).
What is the history of the Aztec mask in London?
The striking turquoise mask now in the British Museum in London is thought to represent Xiuhtecuhtli, the Aztec god of fire, and dates to the final century of the Aztec empire, c. 1400-1521 CE.
How do you make an aztec mask?
Have students research the Aztec culture and arts. Look at authentic images for inspiration before designing a replica mask. Use a paper plate as an armature on which to build the mask. Trim and bend it into shape. Add dimensional effects for the forehead, nose, and mouth. Indent sections for eyes.
What does the Tezcatlipoca mosaic mask mean?
To the right: Turquoise mosaic mask of the god Tezcatlipoca from the British Museum. The obsidian mirror symbolizes the god’s supposed control of the hidden forces of creation and destruction. A human skull is the base of this mask. Ceramic masks were more rare, but they were made. The mask represented by the drawing above is ceramic.