When Heinrich Schliemann found this piece during his excavations at Mycenae in 1878, he is said to have exclaimed: 'I have gazed upon the face of Agamemnon'. Since then, it has been known as 'Agamemnon's death mask', and it is significant as a symbol of Mycenaean wealth.

The original is in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. There continues to be discussion about the date of the original piece, with the majority consensus being that it dates to ca 16th century BCE, around 400 years before the era of the mythical Trojan War and King Agamemnon. It might even have belonged to an earlier king of Mycenae.

It is a thin sheet of hammered gold, in the repoussé technique and you can see stylised facial hair, a 'waxed' moustache, ears, and almond shaped eyes. Small holes near the ears indicate that the mask was attached directly onto the face of the deceased.