10 creepy masks from strange past

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

When looking at the masks of the past, the modern man in the street does not always understand what they were needed for. Leather, iron, with beaks - all these masks evoke not the most pleasant emotions. This roundup features 10 creepy masks for a wide variety of purposes.

1. Mask of the plague doctor

This mask appeared during the plague in 1619. It was worn by doctors in contact with patients. The beak of this mask was stuffed with fragrant flowers and herbs, since it was believed that the infection was transmitted through unpleasant odors.

2. Children's gas mask in the form of Mickey Mouse

After the destruction of Pearl Harbor in World War II, the Americans feared gas attacks. And noticing that standard gas masks are great for children, we created smaller copies for them. To add a playful element, the gas mask was shaped like a Mickey Mouse. Today, the only released batch of 1000 pieces has been disassembled into collections, and this gas mask is considered one of the most repulsive versions of a cartoon mouse.

3. Samurai mask

In addition to their uniforms, Japanese samurai wore the menpo mask. In addition to its direct purpose, the mask held the heavy helmet of the samurai.

4. Protective mask tanker of the First World War

Chain mail was used not only in the Middle Ages, but even at the beginning of the 20th century. During World War I, British tank crews protected their faces from shrapnel flying through the embrasure.

5. Hood for prisoners

This cap was used by Australian jailers in the second half of the 19th century. Especially dangerous criminals were in solitary confinement for almost days. And when they were allowed out for a walk, they put on a bag with slits for the eyes. Thus, the prisoners could not communicate normally with each other.

6. Murmillon mask

Murmillons, well-equipped fighters, performed at gladiatorial battles in Ancient Rome. In addition to their 15-kilogram uniform, they wore peculiar helmets. The eye slots were protected by a mesh to protect the eyes from stabbing blows.

7. Muzzle for slaves

Oppressed by the inhuman working conditions, African slaves ate the land in protest, depriving themselves in this way of life or temporarily losing their ability to work. And in order to save as many workers as possible, their owners put on them something that looked like a muzzle that prevented them from eating land.

8. Halloween masks of the early 20th century

Today's Halloween masks in the form of witches and devils look very funny compared to those made by children in the early 20th century.

9. Sun mask

What women will not do just to meet fashionable standards. In the 16th century, ladies went out in black masks. Thus, the aristocracy protected their pale skin from sunburn.

10. Mask for talkative

Chatty and noisy women have existed at all times. And to silence them, at 16-17 in Scotland and England used this mask. The iron mask was put on the habalka, and the tongue was clamped in a vice, thereby preventing it from uttering articulate sounds. Of course, this is not a complete list of masks used by people for various purposes. Poker mask and more 25 inventions of the last century may seem very strange and funny to the modern man in the street.