Miniature mask

This pentagonal mask bearing two complex inscriptions comes from Vincha (Republic of Serbia). This mask has a mignon (only 5 centimetres) size and was worn by a terracotta statuette. Te bi-inscription stand out on the mouth-cheeks and forehead of it and is probably a mixture of ideograms and syllabic elements.
It was characteristic of Vincha culture to mask its divinities. It symbolised their supernatural nature and perhaps served to indicate that their faces could not be contemplated by mortals.

References:

Gimbutas M., The Civilization of the Goddess, HarperCollins Publishers, 1991
Merlini M., Was Writing Born in Europe? Searching for a Sacred Script, Rome ( in preparation )