In, Greek mythology the Erinyes also known as Furies, were female chthonic deities of vengeance they were sometimes referred to as "infernal goddesses" . A formulaic oath in the Iliad invokes them as "those who beneath the earth punish whosoever has sworn a false oath". They correspond to the Dirae in Roman mythology and some suppose that they are called Furies in hell, Harpies on earth, and Dirae in heaven.
The mask was a necessary device for the ancient Greeks who developed the art of theater. Among the two main genres of Greek theater are comedy and tragedy, elements of which are still the fundamentals of all acting today. Masks such as this were important accessories in a number of ways. Primarily the mask provided colourful imagery as an accessory or prop (features were over-accentuated or made to look ridiculous in comedy much like caricature sketches). Secondly, using masks helped the audience to identify the roles as often a very limited cast were used to perform multiple characters. Thirdly and perhaps most importantly, the conical mouth shape of the masks (which were usually made of clay) helped the acoustics or 'volume' as the voice of the thespian was better projected out into towards the audience in the theater.
Details:
Condition: New, Handmade in Greece
Material: Casting stone
Height: 30 cm - 11.8 inches
Width: 27 cm - 10.6 inches
Weight: 4 kg
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