7000 BCE — Today

MaskatoriuM

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Ritual Masks

from Cultures Worldwide

Ritual masks embody both the seen and the unseen, serving as powerful tools in cultural traditions and ceremonies.

Each mask tells a unique story, weaving together identity, tradition, and the profound complexities of human experience.

1.0

Kifwebe Mask

Songye & Luba Peoples

2.0

Tatanua Mask

Malangan Culture

3.0

Double-faced Mask

Ejagham People

Two face mask made of silvered copper and shell

4.0

nagil mask

fang
culture

5.0

funerary mask

moche
culture

6.0

Spirit Whistle Mask

alutiq
culture

This site was designed by Dor Moshe, built by Sari Lorber and developed by Matan Shomer on Wix Studio—the platform for agencies and enterprises—with a focus on the mouse parallax feature.

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The names, products or services featured in this website are fictitious. Any similarity to actual products or services, is purely coincidental.

accessibility statement

ABOUT
Maskatorium

MASKATORIUM is a project that presents ritual masks from different cultures around the world. Although these are inanimate objects, ritual masks hold a living presence — representing mythological figures, spirits, deities, or ancestral forces. In many ways, they tell stories that go far beyond the material they’re made from.

The masks on this site are not just artifacts. Each one subtly responds to the viewer’s movement, using the mouse parallax feature of Wix Studio — echoing the way ritual meaning is shaped through attention. This interaction invites a moment of quiet exploration between viewer and object.

Credits & Acknowledgements

Image credits:

High-resolution object photography: Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, by Elie Posner Behind-the-scenes photography: Photo © The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

With thanks:

We would like to thank The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, for generously sharing their knowledge and visual materials throughout the development of this project.

Ritual Masks

From cultures worldwide

MaskatoriuM

Maskatorium is an interactive space
that invites you to explore ritual masks.

The masks respond to gestures of the
cursor, revealing stories through motion

Discover more on desktop

Songye & Luba

Malanggan

Ejagham

fang

Moche

alutiq

ABOUT
Maskatorium

5.0

peru, south america

funerary MASK

Date:

300–500 CE

Material:

Silvered copper and shell

Size:

38.5 × 29 × 8 cm

5.1 Moche culture

The Moche flourished on Peru’s northern coast from 100 to 800 CE, ruled by priest-warriors. Known for advanced irrigation, they also practiced human sacrifice and created remarkable ceramics and metalwork. In Moche society, religion, death, and power shaped every aspect of life.

- Bottle representing Ai Apaec, the powerful
Moche god associated with protection and
transformation in funerary rituals.
- Clay and gold
- H: 20.1; W: 17; D: 19.2 cm

[A.1]

- Owl transformation figure
- Clay and pigment
- H: 7.5; W: 17.5 cm

[A.2]

- Owl-shaped pectoral ornament,
placed on the chest of the
deceased during Moche burials.
- Silvered copper and shell
- H: 21; W: 35 cm

[A.3]

5.2
ritual use

5.3 Symbolism

This mask was used in funerary rituals, most likely placed over the face of the deceased to help guide their spirit into the afterlife.

Owls frequently appear in Moche art as creatures of the night and as intermediaries between worlds. The owl depicted on this mask may have symbolized the soul’s passage through darkness or acted as a guardian, guiding the deceased safely into the afterlife.

1.0

Democratic Republic of the Congo