Votive Mask

They were made in ancient Centuripe, west of Catania, Sicily, 100-300 BC. Together with other finds they were discovered in a cemetery, a setting that establishes a devotional context for their production. They emulate types of full-size theatrical masks that were used in performances of New Comedy, popular throughout southern Italy and Sicily from the late fourth century BC to Roman times. The subjects of these comedies were derived largely form day-to-day activities of family life and revolve mostly around improbably romantic entanglements. Like a master falling in love with an employee. New Comedy masks typically represent stock comedic characteristics such as prostitutes of all ages, masters and slaves, young and old men, parasites, flatterers, and musicians.这批器物制作于公元前100至300年的西西里卡塔尼亚西侧的古森图里佩（Centuripe）。它们与其他出土遗物一同在一处墓地中被发现，这一出土背景表明其制作带有祭祀奉祀的属性。它们仿制了用于新喜剧（New Comedy）演出的大型戏剧面具形制，这类新喜剧自公元前4世纪晚期直至罗马时代，风靡于意大利南部与西西里地区。这些喜剧的题材大多取材于日常家庭生活，核心情节多围绕荒诞离奇的情感纠葛展开，例如主人爱上自家仆役这类桥段。新喜剧面具通常塑造了固定的喜剧典型形象，涵盖各年龄段的娼妓、主仆、老少男性、食客、谄媚者与乐师等。