An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s13: 6.13 Masks
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c11.s13
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6.13 Masks
v1.c11.s13.1
Masks, used as coverings for the face either as a protective screen or disguise, have not so far been found at any site; nor are there any known examples of spectacle masks, war masks or portrait masks. All the known specimens are miniature masks of terracotta which vary in dimensions but are hardly ever life-size, except for a lone example from CHIRAND which again could not have been used as a covering for the face.
v1.c11.s13.2
Representations of masked human figures are found in paintings on rock-shelters [13] which have been dated variously between the Mesolithic [4.5] and the historical period; some of these could be considered archetypes of later masks. These figures painted on rock-shelters in Madhya Pradesh are shown wearing bison-horned masks, wolf-head masks, mouse-head masks, etc. (Wakankar and Brooks, 1976, pp. 32, 44, 79). One of the human figures from BHIMBETKA, wearing a double-horned mask and another from MODI (*ibid.*, p. 32) are reminiscent respectively of the Harappa [4.9] double-horned figure engraved on a terracotta cake found at KALIBANGAN (*IAR 1963-4*, pp. 31, 38, pl. XXII B) and the painted motif on a Cemetery H potsherd from Harappa (Vats, 1940, pl. LXIX, 18). Of interest are the masked human figures with double horns represented on seals from Mohenjo-daro and an archer with a double-horned masked face on a copper tablet from the same site.
v1.c11.s13.3
The terracotta masks from Mohenjo-daro are mould-made, hollow and miniature in size. They are of four types: short-horned grotesquely human-faced; horned panther-faced; bull-faced; and bull-horned, bearded human-faced. While no such examples of masks have been found at Harappa, there are examples of animal figurines having masked face with 'Negrito' features. The human-faced masks seem to have been painted or slipped as is evident from traces of either red or white paint or chocolate-coloured slip and have been considered as representing deities. The eyes of the panther-faced masks which are perforated were 'perhaps once inlaid'. The hollow, horned mask from Mohenjo-daro with a short beard projecting slightly outwards and having bull rather than bison horns is the only example of this type and like the other masks has been considered as representing some deity. To the same genre perhaps belong the terracotta animal figurines from Mohenjo-daro and Harappa with faces reminiscent of the miniature masks.
v1.c11.s13.4
The next known examples of masks are of the early historical period and among them the earliest is the terracotta mask found in the NBPW [4.16] levels of CHIRAND (*IAR 1970-71*, p. 7, pl IX A). This mask is perhaps the only example of a life-size mask found so far and shows a 'fierce-looking human face with protruding teeth, bulging nose, rounded eyes and applied moustache'. That it was 'worn like a helmet' is perhaps not correct for its eyes are blocked.
v1.c11.s13.5
The terracotta 'lion-head with realistic features, affixed to a pot' found at PAUNAR, Pd II B, is reminiscent of three 'small lion-masks in relief used for decorating the sides of vessels' found in the Parthian levels of Sirkap and Dharmarājikā site at Taxila which Marshall considered as imitations of Hellenistic prototypes. Contemporary with the Taxila specimens are two miniature masks found in the late levels of Pd V of NEVASA. These masks depict human faces with bold facial features, an *uṣṇīṣa*-like knob on the forehead, big and protruding eyes, short nose and thick lips and were perhaps coated with red paint as is evident from traces of red paint on lips, ears and the forehead knob. These were also attached apparently to some pot and according to the excavators show foreign influence.
v1.c11.s13.6
A fragment of a mask in terracotta was found at MATHURA (personal communication from M.C. Joshi) in an unstratified deposit which, according to the excavator, can be associated with the Kushan period.
v1.c11.s13.7
Dales, G.F., 1965, in *Archaeology*, 18, 2 (for Mohenjo-daro masks). Mackay, E.J.H., 1938, *Further Excavations at Mohenjo-daro*, Delhi. Marshall, J., 1931, *Mohenjo-daro & the Indus Civilization*, London. Marshall, J., 1951, *Taxila*, Cambridge. Vats, M.S., 1940, *Excavations at Harappa*, Delhi. Wakankar, V.S., & Brooks, R.R.R., 1976, *Stone Age Painting in India*, Bombay. For sites see respective entries in vol. II.—B.M. PANDE