🟢 IMAGINES

The Romans did not create what we would consider traditional death masks. Instead, they produced wax effigies called \"imagines\" during their lifetimes.

These weren't made after death, but rather during a man's lifetime, usually around the age of 35-40 when he achieved a certain political status. These imagines served a dual purpose: they were displayed at funerals to honor the deceased and connect the family to its illustrious past, and they signified a man's social and political prominence. Wax was the primary material used to create these lifelike portraits.

This practice differs significantly from modern death masks, which are typically plaster or wax casts taken directly from the deceased's face. Roman imagines were created during life and served a different social and cultural purpose, focusing more on celebrating a lifetime of achievement and maintaining family lineage than preserving a likeness after death.