Mask of Agamemnon

National Archeological Museum- Athens

This is the Mask of Agamemnon. It was discovered in Grave Circle A in the Mycenaean Fortress by Heinrich Schliemann. It gets its name from the speculation that this is the funeral mask of a mythical king of Mycenae named Agamemnon. Could this be proof that the mythical king was a real person? It could be, however there is some belief that Schliemann forged the mask in his own image and passed it off as an archeological finding. This idea is supported by the striking resemblance between him and the mask and the inconsistencies of the dating of the mask and the estimated years of the life of Agamemnon.

Seeing this mask in person was like seeing my favorite celebrity in real life! The mask of Agamemnon is one of the most famous things to be found in Grave Circle A. I have learned about this mask in multiple classes and seen pictures in many textbooks. To finally see it was one of the highlights of the trip for me! My favorite part of the mask is the mustache. If you google a picture of Heinrich Schliemann, he also has a similar mustache! The similarities between the mustaches contributes to the speculation that the mask was forged.