Nobody knows for certain how long masks have been around. We do know that many ancient civilizations, such as in the Americas and India, used masks to portray gods and animals that were important to their daily lives.
Pharaohs and kings wore death masks.
The two masks actually refer to the performing arts. They originated with the ancient Greeks and their theatre, one stands for comedy, the other tragedy.
masks
Actors would use theatre's masks. Brown for men and white for women because women were not allowed to be actors. The masks had simple faces happy for comedic theatre shows and sad for tragic theatre masks.
In the ancient Greek theatres by the actors.
Masks have been worn from ancient times. Witness Tutankhamen for instance.
Ancient china
The so-called House of Masks in Delos was probably a boarding house for actors who performed in the theatre wearing the masks.
The invention of carnival masks is not attributed to a specific individual, as masks have been used in various cultures and festivals throughout history. Masks have been used in ancient Roman and Greek festivals, Venetian carnival traditions, and in many indigenous cultures around the world. The exact origins and creators of the carnival mask are therefore difficult to pinpoint.
masks are used in plays and dramas . . . x
could you tell me what was African masks used for.