Imagines - Death Mask - Plural of Imago

Definition: The Latin word imagines is the plural of imago. The imago was a wax mask cast from the face of an ancestor. Imagines were used in funeral processions to show the pedigree of one's ancestors. Only the senatorial class was allowed to have imagines exhibited in the funeral procession, according to the ius imaginum. When not used in a funeral, the imagines were stationed in the atrium of the family home.