Ritual Mask Possibly 300 - 750

This stone ritual mask was created in Teotihuacan, sometime before 750 CE. The city was a major political, economic, and religious center in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and the mask's style reflects these aspects. The mask is made of a hard, volcanic rock, suggesting the city's reliance on locally sourced materials. The face's stylized features, like the rectangular eyes and the slightly open mouth, express symbolic meaning rather than individual likeness. The hole in the forehead suggests it was originally displayed or worn, indicating its ritualistic purpose. Teotihuacan society was highly stratified, with a powerful ruling class. Masks like this were likely used in religious ceremonies to communicate with gods. They also legitimized the elite’s authority by visually connecting them with the sacred. Further research into Teotihuacan’s ritual practices, social structure, and trade networks could reveal more about this artwork's specific function and meaning. This mask reveals how art serves to reflect and reinforce social and political power.