This exquisitely carved and immensely powerful mask seems to float in another dimension of time and space. Used to cover the face of the dead, perhaps to help the deceased in his travel towards the underworld; or to ward off evil spirits frightened by its kingly expression. The wide headband, very delicately carved, may symbolize someone of high rank. The strong, furrowed brow shows confidence and determination. But it is the eyes that mesmerize us, as if we too are embarking on an extraordinary adventure; undaunted and determined to overcome any obstacle. The wide open mouth heralds the coming of this personage, loud and clear, but also with a softness as if the soul is speaking to the gods. The sculptor must have felt the power of magic and ritual to capture a complex system of beliefs so elegantly and with such intensity. We can feel life radiate through the almost iridescent stone, and through its vision, journey into an unknown realm.