Mummies and Masks
The Fascinating Tradition of the Mummy Mask
It may seem odd to place a mask on a body that’s been carefully wrapped up in linen, but this was a significant practice for the ancient Egyptians. The mummy mask wasn’t just a decorative element—it played an essential role in their beliefs about the afterlife.
And the creep factor is off the charts, if you ask me
Mummy masks were typically made from papyrus or linen, which were then coated with plaster to create a durable surface. These masks were often painted in bright, vivid colors, adding to their striking—and eerie—appearance. It was crafted to resemble the person who had died because it was believed that the mask would help guide the spirit of the deceased in the afterlife.
One of the most recognizable features of a mummy mask is the large, almond-shaped eyes. These eyes were not just an artistic flourish—they were symbolic, representing a window to the soul and an eternal gaze into the afterlife. The Egyptians believed that these masks allowed the dead to see and interact with the world beyond, ensuring their safe passage and continued existence in the next life. It served as a permanent, unchanging face that would last throughout eternity, preserving the identity of the individual even as their physical body decayed.
In my upcoming release, Of Gold and Shadows, intrepid heroine Ami Dalton must catalogue and value a load of Egyptian artifacts—and is dismayed when she uncrates a damaged mummy mask.
The shadows hold secrets darker than they ever imagined. . . .
In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for saving black-market artifacts from falling into the wrong hands, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.
After eight years in India, Oxford's most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor's determined daughter. As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin--rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk--surfaces, and they're left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows. . . .
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