Ancient Masks of Sardinia

[Mens-Sarda]

interesting the Basque mask, Mumutzurru, the name reminds the Mamuthone / Mamutzone, Mamuscone

[Volscian]

Interessante il folklore Sardo

[askra]

There is a zombie movie where the hero is a sardinian traditional mask Mamuthone:

Ischidados:

Finally a movie shot in Sardinia that doesn't speak about outlaws , shepherds, sheeps or millionaires on holiday in Costa Smeralda.

[Empecinado]

I forgot this, in Galicia:

[askra]

It's a carnival mask from the town of Ollolai, in Barbagia.

Su turcu means the "turkish", because this carnival costume looks like the clothes of muslim women, like the burqa, but the real meaning of this costume is totally different; as all sardinian masks, this one has a double nature, it represents the death and the life.

The veil that covers the face represents the veil of death, while the other cloth is the dress used during the baptism.

[askra]

Literally blanket mask, they are carnival costumes from the town of Aidomaggiore, in province of Oristano. Monday when begins the carnival the costumes are white (the colour used in the cloths during the baptism), while the last day of Carnival are wore black blankets, as in in mourning due to imminent end of the festivity. .

[Dombra]

Very interesting and cool

Have the the masks been seen as occult by the church? They sure look the part

[askra]

Very interesting and cool

Have the the masks been seen as occult by the church? They sure look the part

Yes probably, however the clergy wasn't (fortunately) able to extirpate these traditions, so they were assimilated and tolerated by christianity. Many of these ancient rituals became christian festivities, for examples the pagan fires became fires dedicated to some saints like Saint John or Saint Antony.


This monstrous mask called mamuthone under christianity became the representation of the moors, muslim pirates from north africa who plundered the coastal villages, while formerly represented probably an evil spirit:

[Mens-Sarda]

No, but they were assimilated by the christianity. Many of these ancient rituals became christian festivities, for examples the pagan fires became fires dedicated to some saints like Saint John or Saint Antony.


This monstruos mask called mamuthone under christianity became the representation of the moors, muslim pirates from north africa who plundered the coastal villages and that committed many kidnappings and deportation of sardinians in North Africa :

in the region of Mejlogu in northern Sardinia there is a cave called "su puttu de Mamuscone or sa 'ucca de Mamuscone" (the well of Mamuscone, the mouth of Mamuscone) near the village of Cossoine (Cosseìne), the cave is like a vertical well of about 70 or 80 meters depth; and a legend said that the cave was inhabited by this demon called Mamuscone and that in ancient times it was used to get rid of elderly and not self-sufficient people, can't say if this is true, because nothing has been found in the cave, but there is a traditional saying, swear or curse that says "ancu ti chi 'etten in su puttu de Mamuscone" (may they throw you in the well of Mamuscone)

[askra]

Sos Thurpos are archaic Barbagia's masks, from the town of Orotelli, involved in propitiatory rites for goddess' help in everyday harshness of life. Thurpos in sardinian language means blind.

Farmers used to worship the pagan divinity Dionysus, also known as Bacchus or Maimone (in Sardinian), so that it could cause rain and keep their harvest safe.

Sos Thurpos still today have the features of a country man.

Their faces are darkened with cork's soot (su thintieddu) and covered under the hood (su cucuttu) of a long black orbace-wool coat (su gabanu). They wear riding breeches (a s'isporta), velvet waistcoat (su corpette) and jacket (sa zacca). Their leather boots are strengthen by big nails (sas bullittas). Leather bootlegs made their apparel even more traditional.

Once the coat is on, thurpos wear a thick leather shoulder strap adorned with cowbells (s'utturada). The cowbells' sound and the black faces represent ritual practices for the benefit of the community and against evil.

Thurpos show the deep connection between the farmer (su massaju or su voinarzu) and animals working the land with him; it is the carnival representation of Sardinia's social and economic tradition.