Venetian Mask

2 Pages 465 Words

Historically, masquerading was a shared practice among Venetians, regardless of whether they were wealthy, destitute, bold or even shy. Masked prostitutes would engage in the most reckless games of eroticism, and be certain that their anonymity would dissolve all accepted restraints.

Aristocrats, who would usually go to great lengths not to disclose even a clue of their sexual preferences, were able to wear masks and star in acts that back then were not only sinful but also against the law. Even gamblers wore masks to remain anonymous, lest great personal wins and/or losses of money or possessions would not be known by the community. As you might imagine, for some, the wearing of masks was almost necessary!

The Venice environment, because of its crowded city conditions, didn't really allow for much seclusion or solitude; individual anonymity or privacy was difficult to come by. Thus, the "mask" became an outlet for many to depart from the mainstream life they were leading. The average citizen found that by wearing a mask they could act like a stranger, revealing their real persona, which they normally kept to themselves to avoid being judged by others.

Sadly, there were some greedy characters who would use to their benefit the frequent masquing events throughout the year to engage in various illegal and immoral acts.

In 1268, the city's governing bodies, in an attempt to control masquerading, voted for the first of many city statutes that would ultimately ban brutal and aggressive acts, the waste of valuable fabrics, forbidden visits to convents and unlawful ownership of weapons. These types of ordinances would continue being passed right up until the fall of the Venetian Serenissima Republic in 1797.

The use of masks was utlimately banned completely at certain times throughout the year. These bans were strictly enforced during religious services and celebrations such as "The Circumcision of Christ" and "The Purification ...