Eskimo Burial Mask, Essay Example

The Eskimo burial mask was my favorite monument that was covered this semester because it emphasizes the importance of death to the Inuit culture. These masks have eyes wide open and have a clear facial expression, which demonstrates the connection that their culture has with the afterlife; while the individual is deceased in this world, they believe that they will live forever in the afterlife. It is expected that even though many of the masks that are discovered during archeological digs are dark in color, that they were once colorful and adorned with feathers and other items.

There are many different types of Eskimo burial masks that have been discovered by archaeologists, which indicate different cultural aspects of the tribes that these people come from. Some of the masks that have been uncovered have been made of ivory, and others have been made of other materials. They also vary according to shape; some of the masks look more like a human shape and some are longer and more oval. A majority of these masks have been found on the bodies of shamans, although the masks were used for other members of the society as well.

The afterlife is important for individuals of many different ancient cultures, the most well-known of which is the Egyptians. Therefore, we could compare our knowledge of the Egyptians and their art to the Inuit culture in order to determine more information about how these individuals lived in the ancient world. Thus, these masks can tell us a lot about the people that both made and wore them, which is useful for contributing to our understanding of their context in history.