Masks
A mask is a disguise, which regularly communicates an alternative identity.
Masks all around the world were usually made of wood, basketry, bark, and husks of corn, cloth, leather, paper mache, and also skulls. The mouths of the mask would be large or have more emphasis drawn to it so that people would know what role the character was playing.
In Ancient Greek Theater Athenians and other people used masks to worship gods. There was one god in particular that actors would worship who was the god Dionysus. What makes people believe this? Vase painting in which gods wearing masks that are supposedly flying near a tree and where dancers are below him in celebration.
Most Theatrical hats covered the whole head of
the bearer. In comedic plays the face or even the whole mask was distorted
beyond any capable recognition of a real persons face. Some playwrights would
use the same mask in different plays if they had written a character that
fit a description of a character of a previous play (Menander would be one
such playwright).
Aristophanes
A vase of Aristophanes Birds
The Birds- In Aristophanes' play the Birds there were many different types of masks representing different species of birds that showed up during the play. There were twenty-four birds in all who showed up when the Hoopoe called them.
The Flamingo- flaming red mask.
Iranian Fowl- A mask that maybe used in a Greek tragedy.
Most of the birds have giant crests upon their
heads.
Menander
actor playing old women
The masks that Menander would have used would have represented a more human form. Though the mask would have been disfigured it would have looked more real than any of Aristophanes' masks. The masks of Menander's plays would probably have an extremely huge smile from ear to ear.
Charlie Chaplin
The masking of Charlie Chaplin is extremely different than the masks of Aristophanes and Menander. Chaplin used make-up and a mustache for his disguise. I believe it made him more clown like so that he may do more of the slap stick type of jokes.