The comic and tragic masks commonly associated with drama have a long history as theater icons. However, these masks also have associations with less tangible aspects of performance. While their crude function as a performance aid seems obvious, a closer examination of ancient vase paintings and votive sculptures suggests that the theatrical mask was closely linked to the ritualized metamorphosis that the ancient Greeks perceived as underlying dramatic representation. This less corporeal function positioned the mask not only as a symbol of the performing arts but also as a symbol of a process of transformation that provided access to the divine. This symbolic value has evolved over the centuries and remains significant today as a symbol of dramatic and metaphorical transformation. Because they were fashioned from short-lived materials such as linen, animal glue, and plaster, no examples of the types of theatrical masks of Greek actors exist. they would have been used during the Classical period and survive as artefacts. Vase paintings of the time, however, feature many depictions of actors and their masks in various forms to advise on mask use and appearance. A famous example of such a resource is the Pronomos Vase, a red-figure krater from Athens dated to the late 5th century BC. This particularly striking work superficially depicts costumed actors holding their masks in preparation for a satirical play in the presence of Dionysus and Ariadne. Closer examination, however, reveals further depth and relevance to the scene. The seamless design suggests a relationship between the two sides of the vase, paralleling the duality underlying performance as an art form and worship. The viewer is invited to consider the work in the round and therefore can... center the card... in many ways, and will continue to do so for centuries to come. Works Cited Alström, Torbjörn. "The voice in the mask." TDR (1988-) (The MIT Press) 48, no. 2 (2004): 133-138. Brockett, O. G. "The Staging of the Ancient Drama of the Greek National Theatre." Journal of Educational Theater (John Hopkins University Press) 9, no. 4 (1957): 280-286. Calame, Claude. "Confronting Otherness: The Tragic Mask in Ancient Greece." History of Religions (The University of Chicago Press) 26, n. 2 (November 1986): 125-142.Hughes, Alan. Representation of Greek comedy. Cambridge: Campbridge University Press, 2012.Green, J.R. and Handley E.W. Images of Greek Theatre. London, 1995.Vervain, Chris. "Acting Ancient Drama in Mask: The Case of Greek Tragedy." New Theater Quarterly 28, n. 2 (May 2012): 163-181.Wiles, David. Mask and representation in Greek tragedy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.