TITLE: Javanese Sita
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Asia
COUNTRY: Indonesia
SUBREGION: Java
ETHNICITY: Javanese
DESCRIPTION: Sita Mask
CATALOG ID: ASID035
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Wayang Wong Dance Drama
AGE: ca. 1930s
MAIN MATERIAL: wood
OTHER MATERIALS: paint
The Wayang Wong dance drama retells parts of the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These epics revolve around the god Rama and his battle with the demon king Ravana, who has abducted Rama’s wife, Sita. Rama is the avatar (earthly embodiment) of the supreme god Vishnu. In the end, Rama retrieves her with the help of the wily monkey god, Hanuman.
This specific mask represents a character known as Sita, also spelled Sinta or Sintha in Indonesia, and has been well used.
