Ancestor masks and aristocratic power in Roman culture

In this comprehensive study, Harriet I. Flower examines the use of ancestor masks in Roman culture, particularly how these masks were worn by actors at funerals to commemorate politically prominent family members.

She analyzes literary sources, legal texts, epigraphy, archaeology, numismatics, and art to understand the functional evolution of these masks and their significance as symbols of power and prestige within the Roman elite society.