Bronze tragic mask
The curious part about this artifact is that the original, unlike the other copies of masks, is made of bronze as opposed to terracotta. It is also formed as a helmet rather than a mask. This is an uncommon shape and medium for replicas of theatre masks.
The creator of this mask was the sculptor named Silanion. He was one of the most well-known sculptors working in the 4th century BCE. His specialty lay in making sculptures of heroes and portraits in the bronze medium.
The original of this mask was found in the ancient agora of Athens. An agora is a central community space that accommodated businesses, the arts, sports, religious and spiritual gatherings, and political life in the city. The Athenian agora never had an amphitheater built, so these performances took place out in the open; this mask may have been a piece of decoration to commemorate the performance acts that took place there.