Mask of Agamemnon
Gold funerary mask from Mycenae, linked to Homeric legend.
The Mask of Agamemnon, a gold funerary mask from the Bronze Age site of Mycenae in southern Greece, is housed in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Historian Cathy Gere has called it the "Mona Lisa of prehistory." German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann unearthed it in 1876 and was convinced it belonged to the Mycenaean king Agamemnon, the Achaean leader from Homer’s *Iliad*. However, modern archaeology dates the mask to roughly the 16th century BC, placing it 300 to 400 years before the legendary Trojan War.
Schliemann found the mask in 1876 inside Grave V, one of the shaft tombs in Grave Circle A at Mycenae. Of the 19 individuals buried there—including men, women, and children—all the men had weapons, but only five—those in Graves IV and V—were buried with masks. The abundance of gold and fine craftsmanship points to high status and wealth. Schliemann named the mask after Agamemnon, seeing it as proof that the Trojan War was historical. He telegraphed King George I, claiming, "I have gazed upon the face of Agamemnon," and later named his son after the king. Toward the end of his life, though, Schliemann accepted doubts about the mask’s true owner, reportedly saying, "So this is not Agamemnon ... these are not his ornaments? All right, let's call him Schulze."
The mask was made from a single thick gold sheet, heated and hammered over a wooden form, with details chased in using a sharp tool. Its authenticity has been questioned since the late 20th century, mainly by scholars William Calder III and David Traill. *Archaeology* magazine has published debates on both sides. By the time of the excavation, the Greek Archaeological Society had assigned Panagiotis Stamatakis as ephor to supervise Schliemann, following earlier issues at Troy. Critics of the mask’s authenticity point to Schliemann’s history of salting digs with artifacts from elsewhere; they argue he could have had the mask made, modeled on the other Mycenaean masks, and planted it. Defenders note that the excavation was closed on November 26–27 for a Sunday holiday and rain, and only reopened with credible witnesses present. The three other masks were found on November 28, while the Mask of Agamemnon appeared on November 30.
Quick Facts
- Material
- Gold
- Created
- c. 1525 BC
- Location
- National Archaeological Museum, Attica, Greece
- Discovered Place
- Peloponnese, Greece
- Discovered Date
- 1876
- Discovered By
- Heinrich Schliemann
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Heinrich Schliemann found the mask in 1876 in a shaft tomb designated Grave V at Grave Circle A, Mycenae. A total of 19 individuals—including men, women, and children—were discovered in the circle, all the men with weapons, but only five had masks, found in Graves IV and V. The mask was created from a single thick gold sheet, heated and hammered against a wooden background, with details chased later. Schliemann named it after the legendary Greek king Agamemnon and telegraphed King George I: 'I have gazed upon the face of Agamemnon.' He later named his son after the king, though near the end of his life he accepted doubts, saying, 'So this is not Agamemnon ... All right, let's call him Schulze.'
Reader's Guide
The Mask of Agamemnon holds significance as a spectacular artifact from Mycenaean civilization and as a symbol of the debate between archaeology and myth. Schliemann's claim that it was the face of the Homeric hero fueled popular imagination and arguments for the historicity of the Trojan War. However, modern research dates the mask to around the 16th century BC, centuries before the traditional date of the war. Its authenticity has been questioned since the late 20th century, with critics citing Schliemann's reputation for salting digs and stylistic anomalies—such as its three-dimensional form, cut-out ears, and unique beard—compared to other Mycenaean masks. Defenders note the controlled excavation and similarities to other gold artifacts from the site. The mask remains a focal point for discussions of archaeological ethics, forgery, and the interpretation of ancient remains.
Did You Know?
- The mask was discovered in Grave V at Grave Circle A, Mycenae, in 1876.
- The mask is made from a single thick gold sheet, hammered and chased with a sharp tool.
- Modern research suggests the mask predates the Trojan War by 300–400 years.
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