The so-called Mask of Agamemnon is a gold funerary mask unearthed in 1876 by Heinrich Schliemann at the Bronze Age site of Mycenae in southern Greece. Schliemann believed he had discovered the remains of the legendary king Agamemnon of Homer’s Iliad, though modern archaeology shows the mask dates to the 16th century B.C.—several centuries before the time traditionally associated with the Trojan War.

The mask was found in Grave Circle A, still covering the face of its wearer, and was one of five gold masks uncovered in the shaft graves. Distinguished by its artistry and preservation, Schliemann declared it to be that of the epic king. While this identification is now rejected, the richness of the burial suggests it belonged to a figure of high status, likely a Mycenaean ruler.

Crafted by hammering gold sheets over a wooden mold, the mask is fully three-dimensional, with carefully detailed facial hair, cut-out ears, and eyelids rendered as if both open and closed. Its uniqueness has made it one of the most iconic masterpieces of Mycenaean goldwork.