From Art to Archeology: Decoding the purpose of Egyptian Head Cones
by Talia bint al-Athir, OP, CB, Kingdom of An Tir
Ancient Egyptian head cones, depicted as white or cream-colored objects placed atop the heads of individuals in various scenes, have long intrigued historians and archaeologists. These conical objects are shown in artistic representations from banquets to funerary rituals, often associated with purity and sanctity. For years, the head cones appeared only in artistic depictions, leading to various theories about their nature and purpose. Some believed they were symbolic, representing personal hygiene and social status, while others suggested they were actual objects made of perfumed fat that melted over time to cleanse and scent the hair and body. Recent archaeological discoveries, however, have confirmed their existence and provided new insights into their construction, material composition, and cultural significance.
Description and Depiction of Head Cones
A head cone is a conical object frequently seen in ancient Egyptian paintings and reliefs. These cones, typically depicted as white or cream-colored, are shown atop the heads of individuals in scenes such as banquets, funerary rituals, and other ceremonial events. They are believed to symbolize purity and sanctity and can be seen in tomb paintings illustrating daily life, celebrations, and religious rituals. The repeated appearance of head cones in these contexts suggests they held significant meaning and were possibly used to denote status or to partake in spiritual practices [1][2][3] .
Material Composition of Ancient Egyptian Head Cones
Archaeological findings at the Amarna cemetery have revealed that these head cones were primarily made of beeswax, as confirmed by spectroscopic analysis. Live Science notes, “In both cases, the cones appear cream colored; spectroscopic analysis indicated that the cones were likely made of beeswax”[4] . Additionally, these cones were not solid; they contained hollow shells filled with brown and black organic matter, indicating a sophisticated construction process. Historic Mysteries elaborates, “The head cones were not solid but were hollow shells folded around brown and black organic matter”[5] . This suggests that constructing these cones involved more than just simple wax molding.
Construction Process of the Head Cones
The construction of these head cones was intricate, involving hollow designs and precise craftsmanship. The cones discovered were hollow and showed signs of insect activity, indicating careful construction. Smithsonian Magazine reports, “Among the buried, Stevens and her team discovered two individuals sporting full heads of hair, as well as hollow, cream-colored head cones”[6] . Initially, it was believed that these cones might have been made of perfumed fat that melted over time to scent the hair and body. However, the lack of perfume residues in the wax challenges this hypothesis. Live Science elaborates, “The new discovery… makes this interpretation problematic, since the cones are made of beeswax, not unguent, and no perfume was detected in the team’s tests”[7] .
Usage and Wearing of Head Cones
Artistic depictions suggest that head cones were worn during ceremonial and ritual contexts rather than daily life. Live Science states, “In artistic depictions, head cones are often depicted as being worn by guests, both female and male, in banqueting scenes, including those honoring the dead, or by male tomb owners as they participate in funerary rituals, or are rewarded by the king”[8]. The exact method of wearing these cones remains speculative, but it is assumed they were stable enough to stay in place, possibly attached to the hair or a headpiece. Live Science further notes, “There’s no direct evidence of how the cones were physically kept on the head, but it is assumed that the beeswax cones, possibly attached to the hair or a headpiece, were stable enough to stay in place during use”[9] .
Analysis and Findings
Analysis of the head cones from Amarna highlights their symbolic and potentially spiritual significance. The hollow structure and presence of organic material within the cones indicate precision in manufacturing, likely for symbolic purposes. Historic Mysteries states, “The cones’ structure, being hollow with organic material, indicates that they were manufactured with a level of precision, likely to maintain their shape and possibly to contain or represent something symbolic” [10]. The discovery of these cones in non-elite graves suggests their use was not limited to the wealthy, pointing to a broader cultural significance. Smithsonian Magazine notes, “The discovery in non-elite graves suggests that they were not exclusive to the wealthy, indicating a broader cultural significance”[11][12] .
Ceremonial Significance Beyond Daily Life
The head cones were likely not used during daily life but served as ceremonial or ritualistic symbols. They appear in scenes of banquets, funerary rituals, and possibly other ceremonial events, highlighting their importance in these contexts rather than as everyday items. Science Friday supports this, explaining that these cones were likely ceremonial or ritualistic symbols rather than items used in daily life [13].
Image Gallery
Women in 3,300 year old banquet scene are depicted wearing cone-shaped objects atop their heads. “A feast for Nebamun” (the top half), British Museum
Painting of 13th century BCE showing women in ceremonial attire, one at least wearing a “perfume cone”.
Head cones depicted in paintings and carvings from the Egyptian site of Armana
Woman wearing a “perfume cone”, circa 1422-1411 BC
Modern reproduction of wax head cone, image source Ancient Egyptian Memes
Relief showing three men with short haired wigs from the tomb of the Royal Scribe (Khaemhat) in Thebes
An ancient Egyptian woman who was buried with a cone on her head, Amarna Project
Relief of stone artifact , Egyptian Museum. 4000BC- 1340 BC, Neues Museum-Berlin
Musician wearing a head cone playing the lyre
Scene from the tomb of General Imeneninet, 1300-1330 BC. Musée du Louvre, Paris
Resources
- [1][6][11] Smithsonian Magazine – “Ancient Egyptian Head Cones Were Real, Grave Excavations Suggest” . https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-egyptian-head-cones-were-real-grave-excavations-suggest-180973750/
- [2][5][10] Historic Mysteries – “Ancient Egyptian Head Cones: A Puzzle only Recently Solved” . https://www.historicmysteries.com/archaeology/egyptian-head-cones/31770/
- [3][4][7][8][9][12] Live Science – “The First Evidence of ‘Head Cones’ Found in 3,300-Year-Old Egyptian Tomb” . https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egypt-head-cone-burial.html
- [13] Science Friday – “Solving The Mystery Of Ancient Egyptian Head Cones” . https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/egyptian-head-cones/