Roman new comedy mask
This is a Roman theatre mask made from terracotta. It depicts a male character, with long braided hair, visible eye sockets and a nose that seems very flat and worn. The character also has a natural shaped, wide-open mouth.
New Comedy was a Roman-influenced genre that focused on domestic scenes and comedic romance. A common storyline is that of thwarted lovers who are helped and hindered by several stock characters including the cunning slave and the cruel father. One of the lovers is often a foundling and has to discover their true identity to make the marriage possible. This mask may represent the young boy who falls in love, possibly the protagonist of the play.