Ancient Sardinian Masks and Rituals
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 Sardinia
is one of the easiest places in Italy to find examples
of rituals and costumes that pre-date Christianity,
especially in the “zoomorphic” masks that appear in
festivals throughout the island, particularly in the
inland areas of Nuoro and Barbagia. For example, the
photo (right) is a mask of su boe di Ottana [the bull of Ottana,
a town of about 2,000 near Nuoro]. The figure appears at
carnevale and
the ritual involves the yoking of an ox and the blending
of man and beast into a single figure. The presence of
and importance given to the ox is ancient and widespread
in Europe.
 Also near
Nuoro is the town of Mamoiada, where the character of
Mamuthone reenacts rites of propitiation to the ancient
gods of agriculture. The mask (photo, left) is carved in
pieces of wild pear wood, alder and walnut and darkened
to give it the traditional look—diabolical and savage;
he is, says tradition, a union of fire and the moon. The
mask has become iconic of rural Sardinia. The ritual
involves an orderly procession/dance, and one important
aspect of these rituals, not just in Mamoiada but
elsewhere throughout the rugged interior of the island,
is that they have resisted attempts to abolish them
throughout the centuries by one or another colonizing
force. The idea that there were bands of rugged farmers
quite capable of joining together to sacrifice animals
(and maybe invaders) did not sit well, say, with the
Romans or even many centuries later with the Spanish,
both of whom were content to colonize the coasts and
stay away from the inland mountains. The town of
Mamoiada is now home to an important Museum of
Mediterranean Masks.
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