The artist who carved this ivory mask wanted to emphasize the important role this individual played in Benin history. How was this accomplished? This mask is an idealized image of a royal woman at the Court of Benin, probably Idia, the mother of Oba Esigie. Idia was given the exalted title of Iyoba, or queen mother, by her son the Oba (or king) in acknowledgment of her pivotal role as his advisor. The mask's oval face is adorned with symbols of power derived from images of the sea and of the sea god Olokun. Below the chin is a decorative band of coral beads, a material so precious it could only be owned by an Oba. Circling the head are images of mudfish, which live both in water and on land and symbolize the Oba's role as a semi-divine leader. Also depicted around the perimeter of the head and below the chin are the bearded faces of Portuguese traders, associated with Olokun because they arrived in Benin by sea carrying precious coral and copper cargo. The ivory used to create the work was itself a form of wealth for the kingdom of Benin in its trading partnerships with Europe.