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Head cones, also known as perfume cones or wax cones were a type of conical ornament worn atop the head in ancient Egypt. They are often depicted on paintings and bas-reliefs of the era, but were not found as archaeological evidence until 2019.
People wearing the cones are often depicted wearing a long, translucent dress, and on some occasions a kilt, with a fold of the dress draped over the left shoulder. In coloration, the dress often resembles the cone itself. The skirt of the dress is white while the upper portion is an orange or amber color. Distinct lines and squiggles are sometimes painted running through the orange portion and over the person's arms, and the bottom of the orange portion often terminates in a streaky pattern that seems to fade into the white part of the dress.
Both men and women wearing the cone almost always wear a headband with ornamentation running around the front and sides of the head, with a string circling around the back. A similar band can sometimes be seen going around the cone itself. A lotus flower drapes over the front of the headband, or sometimes comes out of the front of the band or out of the cone itself. In a few instances where there is no lotus flower on the head, it can be seen instead in the wearer's hand near their face. Since these instances are portrayed adjacent to other people wearing the flower, it may be supposed that the wearer has removed the flower for the purpose of smelling it.
In a few depictions, where several seated women are being attended by young, nude girls, it can be seen that one or two of the women wear no headband. White strips dangle from the hands of the girls, and it may be supposed that the girls are in the process of distributing the bands. Other girls bear cones in their hands as they attend to the women.
Head cones, also known as perfume cones or wax cones were a type of conical ornament worn atop the head in ancient Egypt. They are often depicted on paintings and bas-reliefs of the era, but were not found as archaeological evidence until 2019.
Head cone outfit
People wearing the cones are often depicted wearing a long, translucent dress, and on some occasions a kilt, with a fold of the dress draped over the left shoulder. In coloration, the dress often resembles the cone itself. The skirt of the dress is white while the upper portion is an orange or amber color. Distinct lines and squiggles are sometimes painted running through the orange portion and over the person's arms, and the bottom of the orange portion often terminates in a streaky pattern that seems to fade into the white part of the dress.
Both men and women wearing the cone almost always wear a headband with ornamentation running around the front and sides of the head, with a string circling around the back. A similar band can sometimes be seen going around the cone itself. A lotus flower drapes over the front of the headband, or sometimes comes out of the front of the band or out of the cone itself. In a few instances where there is no lotus flower on the head, it can be seen instead in the wearer's hand near their face. Since these instances are portrayed adjacent to other people wearing the flower, it may be supposed that the wearer has removed the flower for the purpose of smelling it.
In a few depictions, where several seated women are being attended by young, nude girls, it can be seen that one or two of the women wear no headband. White strips dangle from the hands of the girls, and it may be supposed that the girls are in the process of distributing the bands. Other girls bear cones in their hands as they attend to the women.
Function
Perfume cones were presumably made of a mixture of oils, resins and fat, and containingmyrrh
Myrrh (; from Semitic, but see '' § Etymology'') is a gum-resin extracted from a number of small, thorny tree species of the genus ''Commiphora''. Myrrh resin has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. Myrrh mi ...
. Images of the era show people wearing them on wigs or on shaved heads. The slow melting of the cones due to bodily heat would have spread the fragrance.
Depiction
The first known depiction of the perfume cones dates from the reign ofHatshepsut
Hatshepsut (; also Hatchepsut; Egyptian: '' ḥꜣt- špswt'' "Foremost of Noble Ladies"; or Hatasu c. 1507–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. She was the second historically confirmed female pharaoh, aft ...
, in scenes of banquet or funeral. From then on, they are often seen in scenes of worship and funerals. From the Third Intermediate Period
The Third Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt began with the death of Pharaoh Ramesses XI in 1077 BC, which ended the New Kingdom, and was eventually followed by the Late Period. Various points are offered as the beginning for the latt ...
, their depiction is limited to scene of worship.
The shape of the cones varies over the 18th
18 (eighteen) is the natural number following 17 and preceding 19.
In mathematics
* Eighteen is a composite number, its divisors being 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9. Three of these divisors (3, 6 and 9) add up to 18, hence 18 is a semiperfect number. ...
and 19th Dynasties, which constitutes an aid for dating the works. From the 20th Dynasty
The Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt (notated Dynasty XX, alternatively 20th Dynasty or Dynasty 20) is the third and last dynasty of the Ancient Egyptian New Kingdom period, lasting from 1189 BC to 1077 BC. The 19th and 20th Dynasties furthermore toget ...
onwards, the depiction of the cones becomes schematic.Monika Silke Randl
Notes and references
Notes
Bibliography
* Rainer Hannig: ''Großes Handwörterbuch Ägyptisch-Deutsch: (2800-950 v. Chr.)''. von Zabern, Mainz 2006, {{ISBN, 3-8053-1771-9, p. 258. * Monika Silke Randl: ''Die Entwicklung der Salbkegel im Flachbild.'' Diplomarbeit, Universität Wien 2008 Ancient Egyptian culture Cosmetics Perfumes Headgear