Weight with Theatrical Mask

A theatrical mask emerges from the surface of this thick bronze plaque. The theater was immensely popular in the Greek and Roman world and this interest found expression in the numerous theatrical motifs used for decorative purposes, from lamps to wall-paintings. Sometimes actors were portrayed, and other times, as here, a theatrical mask stood alone. The type of mask shown on this weight with a smooth youthful face, down-turned mouth, and plain center-parted hair originated in the Hellenistic period and continued into Roman times. 

Used with a simple pan balance, this plaque was probably a shop or market weight. The high relief and detailed rendering of the mask suggest that it dates to the second or first centuries B.C. The weight of the piece, however, suggests a Roman date, since it weighs the same as six silver *denarii,* Roman coins, in the Julio-Claudian period. This correlation of weight is probably deliberate.