Mask c. 501 - 900

This serene mask was carved from alabaster by an unknown hand. Note the closed eyes, a universal symbol of sleep, death, or a dreamlike state of consciousness. Consider the closed eyes of Egyptian sarcophagi, portraits intended to accompany the dead in their eternal slumber. These images go beyond mere representation, acting as portals to a deeper realm, blurring the line between the mortal and immortal. This motif carries through time; from ancient funerary art to the Romantic poets’ fascination with dreams as a gateway to the subconscious. The closed eyes invite contemplation, embodying the transition from the visible world to the hidden depths of the soul. The cyclical nature of such symbols reminds us that death is not an end, but part of a continuous process, ever-reappearing in our collective consciousness.