We Are Royal Mummies
Ancient Egyptian Golden Burial Masks
by Shelley Schoby, K-2 Art Specialist
In
Art this week, students learned about the ancient Egyptian belief
in the after life. Egyptians that lived over four thousand years
ago believed that in the afterlife a person would need to use many
of the objects they had owned while alive. Students were able to
see many of the treasures fit for a king from the tomb of Pharaoh
Tutankhamen, the Boy King.
First grade students discovered that the reason Mrs. Schoby was
able to share the boy King’s artifacts with them was that King
Tut’s tomb had not been raided by grave robbers. Tut’s first two
coffins or sarcophagus were made of wood with gold overlay. His
innermost sarcophagus was made from solid gold. Each coffin carried
the image of King Tut. Inside the third sarcophagus, the Pharaoh
Tutankhamen’s mummified body was decorated with a beautiful golden
mask. The golden burial mask was created in the likeness of King
Tut. In essence the mask was a portrait.
The golden burial mask depicts several symbols that suggests that the mummy was once a ruler of Egypt. The vulture and cobra above the forehead are two symbols. First grade students created their own golden burial mask. Mrs. Schoby modeled steps to follow when creating the mask. Each student drew symbols on their mask that represent what they rule. Acrylic gold and silver paint turned masks shiny and colored marker were used to add jewels.
