|
LONG-NOSED COPPER
GOD MASK
CALHOUN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
RETURN
TO PAGE 1
This picture shows the back of one of the copper
long-nosed god
masks from Meppen, Illinois. The long
nose extends outward on the
opposite side. The facial
features are typical of most god masks.
There is a bi-
lobed headdress, a horizontal line across the
forehead,
two large round eyes and a straight line for a mouth.
"It may be suggested that the two
knobs on the head
represent the castellated headdress or hair. Such
a double
topknot is a common hairstyle for many Mississippian
figurines" (Emerson: 1982). The eyes are a noticeable
"stand-
out" features on most god masks. They are usually
large
and round and have pupils in the center and sometimes
a double
circle. In Winnebago mythology these small
masks are described
as "little faces with winking eyes.
(Reilly III: 2004).
|