How to Make Egyptian Mummy Masks
Mummy or burial masks were a major part of Egyptian culture. After important men and women died, their bodies were preserved for the afterlife through the process of mummification. The faces of these mummies were covered with elaborate masks that were made of gold. Egyptians believed a mask gave the deceased person a face in the afterlife. If you teach about Egypt and are interested in an engaging hands-on activity for students, consider creating your own mummy masks from a few supplies.
Things You'll Need
- Paper plate
- Marker
- Scissors or craft knife
- Poster board
- Glue
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Hole puncher
- Yarn
Instructions
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1
Create eye holes in a paper plate. Hold the plate up to your face to determine where to locate the eye holes. Mark the spots with a marker. Use a pair of scissors or a craft knife to make the eye holes.
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2
Make a headdress. Place the paper plate on a piece of poster board and trace it. Use the marker to draw a headdress around the traced image of the paper plate. Cut out the headdress.
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3
Glue the headdress to the paper plate. Line the rim of the paper plate with glue where the headdress will attach. Press the headdress onto the paper plate. Set it aside to let the glue dry.
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4
Paint the mask. You may paint the mask any way you see fit. To create a mask that resembles King Tut's mask, paint the entire paper plate gold, and paint blue and gold lines on the headdress. Set the mask aside to allow the paint to dry.
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5
Add ties to the mask. Use a hole puncher to create a hole in each side of the paper plate. Cut two lengths of yarn, and string one length of yarn through each hole. Tie a knot in each piece of yarn to prevent it from falling through its hole. Secure the mask to your face by tying the yarn pieces at the back of your head.
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Tips & Warnings
You may substitute tape for glue.
Provide adult supervision for young children who do this project.
References
- Photo Credit Egyptian farao image by kaleff from Fotolia.com
