mask

Anita and Patti wearily shuffled down the stairs to the two waiting tour guides. Today was the end to a roller-coaster ride the girls have ridden for two weeks. A dark silence was complemented by hung heads and heavy steps as they embarked on a final trip to sightsee the wondrous city of Lima. Museo de Oro del Peru was the last stop.

Patti, in a quick walk-around around the museum, spotted Anita staring up to a glass screen shielding a treasured artifact.

Anita was observing how her reflection paled in comparison to the light catching the shine of the gold and silver. The polishing did, in fact, cause the surface of the mask to gleam. She knew if she peered inside it, its underside would resemble its outward appearance. The tour guides claimed that Peruvian art was made to be representative of status inside and out.

Slowly, Anita straightened her body. It had been hours since entering the museum.

Meanwhile, Patti came from behind to say, “So this type of masks is worn by the wealthy and the powerful because it symbolizes status?”

Anita looked back to say, “Yep. And for distinguishing lower classes from the powerful which then divided society.”

Patti added, “I’m glad that nowadays, people do not wear this form of jewellery because we emphasize equality.”

Then, they returned to viewing the overwhelming quantity of pre-Columbian gold pieces from the Incas and pre-Inca civilization. Anita, in particular, thought about the good shape these masks were in, with no sign of wear.

Anita sat there analyzing the mask until Patti tapped her hand to bring her attention to the tour guides. They revealed that the exquisite gold mask was most likely left undisturbed by Spanish conquistadors and grave robbers. Adding that, only a wealthy leader or royalty could have adorned this mask. Due to its elaborate design and intricate execution, this mask was reflective of Sutton Hoo burial masks. Both the Inca and Anglo-Saxon craftsmen skilfully carved clean lines and drawings which were the results of intricate tooling.

Suddenly, Patti saw Anita fumbling to find her iPhone. When she did, panic seemed to overcome her. Patti leaned over to see the time displayed on the screen. Was it really 7:30 p.m.? They had to return to BaseCamp. Anita needed to be there to wait for her ride to the airport.

When Patti and Anita finally reached BaseCamp, fifteen minutes later, a cab was waiting. Anita knew she had only minutes before the taxi driver would leave. Crying, the girls embraced one last time.

On a night like that, Anita realized why it meant so much to ancient Peruvians to be buried with art. Art serves as symbols, representations of ourselves, and we all want to be remembered. After all, we are born. We live for a little bit of time, and then we die. At least, these mummies were able to preserve their identity using symbols of status and wealth.