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Why are its eyes so large?

CGTN

Two bronze masks from Sanxingdui feature protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN
Two bronze masks from Sanxingdui feature protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

Two bronze masks from Sanxingdui feature protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN
A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN
A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN
A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN
A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN
A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN
A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN
A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

A bronze mask from Sanxingdui features protruding eyes, large ears and exaggerated facial features characteristic of the ancient Shu civilization, which dates back to some 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. /CGTN

Protruding eyes, enormous ears and an extraordinary face – this bronze mask was never meant to look ordinary. Rather than simply copying the appearance of a real person, Sanxingdui artisans exaggerated the facial features to create an image that seems almost supernatural. Perhaps these remarkable eyes were meant to suggest a power to see beyond the human world.

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