Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T00:35:51.711Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

From representation to reality: ancient Egyptian wax head cones from Amarna

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2019

Anna Stevens Open the ORCID record for Anna Stevens [Opens in a new window] ,
Corina E. Rogge ,
Jolanda E.M.F. Bos  and
Gretchen R. Dabbs
Anna Stevens*
Affiliation:
Centre for Ancient Cultures, SOPHIS, Monash University, Wellington Road, Melbourne, Victoria3800, Australia McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, CambridgeCB2 3ER, UK
Corina E. Rogge
Affiliation:
The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, P.O. Box 6826, Houston, TX77265-6826, USA
Jolanda E.M.F. Bos
Affiliation:
Archaeology and Heritage Consultancy Blikveld & Bos, Patrijzenstraat 11, 2042 CL, Zandvoort, the Netherlands
Gretchen R. Dabbs
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University, 1000 Faner Drive, Mail Code 4502, Carbondale, IL62901, USA
*
*Author for correspondence (Email: anna.stevens@monash.edu)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Images of ancient Egyptians wearing distinctive, cone-shaped objects on their heads have, in the absence of physical examples, long elicited scholarly debate. Did people wear these cones, or were they a purely iconographic device? What was their function and meaning? Recent excavations at the Amarna cemeteries now provide the first material examples of head cones. Spectroscopic analyses indicate that their primary constituent is a biological wax, and not fat or incense, as sometimes speculated. The authors tentatively suggest that the Amarna cones were symbols meant to enhance the rebirth or personal fertility of the deceased in the afterlife.

Keywords

EgyptAmarnaAkhetatenAkhenatenhead conesburial rites
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 93 , Issue 372 , December 2019 , pp. 1515 - 1533
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2019

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arrizabalanga, I., Gómez-Laserna, O., Aramendia, J., Arana, G. & Madariaga, J.M.. 2014. Applicability of a diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform handheld spectrometer to perform in situ analyses on cultural heritage materials. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy 129: 259–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2014.03.096CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aufderheide, A.C. & Rodíguez-Martín, C.. 1998. The Cambridge encyclopedia of human paleopathology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Bettum, A. 2015. The Amarna Coffins Project. Coffins from the South Tombs cemetery: decorative scheme. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 101: 29–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/030751331510100101Google Scholar
Bouriant, U., Legrain, G. & Jéquier, G.. 1903. Monuments pour servir à l’étude du culte d'Atonou en Egypte. Tome premier. Les tombes de Khouitatonou. Cairo: Imprimerie de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale.Google Scholar
Bruyère, B. 1926. Rapport sur les fouilles de Deir el Médineh (1924–1925). Cairo: Imprimerie de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale.Google Scholar
Cherpion, N. 1994. Le ‘cône d'onguent’ gage de survie. Bulletin de l'Institut français d'archaéologie orientale 94: 79–106.Google Scholar
Corkery, R.W. 2004. A variation on Luzzati's soap phases: room temperature thermotropic liquid crystals. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 6: 1534–46. https://doi.org/10.1039/b315595cCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuní, J., Cuní, P., Eisen, B., Savisky, R. & Bové, J.. 2012. Characterization of the binding medium used in Roman encaustic paintings on wall and wood. Analytical Methods 4: 659–69. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2ay05635fCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dabbs, G.R., Rose, J.C. & Zabecki, M.. 2015. The bioarchaeology of Akhetaten: unexpected results from a capital city, in Ikram, S., Kaiser, J. & Walker, R. (ed.) Egyptian bioarchaeology: humans, animals, and the environment: 43–52. Leiden: Sidestone.Google Scholar
Demarée, R.J. 1983. The 3ḫ ĭḳr n Rc-stelae: on ancestor worship in ancient Egypt. Leiden: Nederlands Instituut Voor Het Nabije Oosten.Google Scholar
Dimar, J.R., Nathan, S.T. & Glassman, S.D.. 2012. The spectrum of traumatic Schmorl's nodes: identification and treatment options in 3 patients. American Journal of Orthopaedics 41: 427–31.Google ScholarPubMed
Graves-Brown, C. 2014. A gazelle, a lute player and Bes: three rings from Amarna, in Dodson, A., Johnston, J.J. & Monkhouse, W.A. (ed.) A good scribe and an exceedingly wise man. Studies in honour of W.J. Tait: 113–26. London: Golden House.Google Scholar
Harrington, N. 2016. The eighteenth dynasty Egyptian banquet: ideals and realities, in Draycott, C.M. & Stamatopoulou, M. (ed.) Dining and death: interdisciplinary perspectives on the ‘funerary banquet’ in ancient art, burial and belief: 129–72. Leuven: Peeters.Google Scholar
Jones, E. 1989. Festal cones. Discussions in Egyptology 13: 49–52.Google Scholar
Keimer, L. 1953. Notes prises chez les Bisarin et les Nubiens D'Assouan. Bulletin de l'Institute de’Égypte (Cairo) 34: 329–449.Google Scholar
Kemp, B. 2012. The city of Akhenaten and Nefertiti: Amarna and its people. London: Thames & Hudson.Google Scholar
Kemp, B., Stevens, A., Dabbs, G.R., Zabecki, M. & Rose, J.C.. 2013. Life, death and beyond in Akhenaten's Egypt: excavating the South Tombs Cemetery at Amarna. Antiquity 87: 64–78. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00048626CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kühn, H. 1960. Detection and identification of waxes, including Punic wax, by infra-red spectrography. Studies in Conservation 5: 71–81. https://doi.org/10.1179/sic.1960.013Google Scholar
Lyman, D.J. & Schofield, P.. 2008. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of human hair fiber structure. Applied Spectroscopy 62: 525–35. https://doi.org/10.1366/000370208784344532CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Manniche, L. 1997. Reflections on the banquet scene, in Tefnin, R. (ed.) La peinture égyptienne ancienne. Un monde de signes à preserver (Monumenta Aegyptiaca 7): 29–36. Brussels: Fondation égyptologique Reine Élisabeth.Google Scholar
Manniche, L. 1999. Sacred luxuries: fragrance, aromatherapy, and cosmetics in ancient Egypt. Ithaca (NY): Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
der Manuelian, P. 1999. Private stela, in Freed, R., Markowitz, Y.J. & D'Auria, S.H. (ed.) Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamun: 256. London: Thames & Hudson.Google Scholar
Maraite, É. 1991. Le cone de parfum dans l'ancienne Égype, in Ombsomer, C. & Oosthoek, A. (ed.) Amosiadès: mélanges offerts au Professeur Claude Vandersleyen par ses anciens étudiants: 213–19. Louvaine le Neuve: Université Catholique de Louvain.Google Scholar
Martin, G.T. 1989. The Royal Tomb at el-’Amarna II. London: Egypt Exploration Society.Google Scholar
Merbs, C.F. 1989. Spondylolysis: its nature and anthropological significance. International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology 4: 163–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02446238CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meskell, L. 2002. Private life in New Kingdom Egypt. Princeton (NJ): Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691188089CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miliani, C., Rosi, R., Daveri, A. & Brunetti, B.G.. 2012. Reflection infrared spectroscopy for the non-invasive in situ study of artists’ pigments. Applied Physics A 106: 295–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-011-6708-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Müller, C. 1984. Salbkegel, in Helck, W. & Otto, E. (ed.) Lexikon der Ägyptologie V: 366–67. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
Padgham, J. 2012. A new interpretation of the cone on the head in New Kingdom Egyptian tomb scenes. Oxford: Archaeopress.Google Scholar
Peet, T.E. & Woolley, C.L.. 1923. The city of Akhenaten, part 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society.Google Scholar
Pendlebury, J.D.S. 1951. The city of Akhenaten, part 3. London: Egypt Exploration Society.Google Scholar
Poli, T., Chiantore, O., Nervo, M. & Piccirillo, A.. 2011. Mid-IR fiber-optic reflectance spectroscopy for identifying the finish on wooden furniture. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 400: 1161–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-4834-5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Regert, M., Colinart, S., Degrand, L. & Decavallas, O.. 2001. Chemical alteration and use of beeswax through time: accelerated ageing tests and analysis of archaeological samples from various environmental contexts. Archaeometry 43: 549–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-4754.00036CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roth, A.M. 1992. The psš-kf and the ‘opening of the mouth’: a ritual of birth and rebirth. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 78: 57–80. https://doi.org/10.2307/3822068Google Scholar
Salvadó, N., Butí, S., Nicholson, J., Emerich, H., Labrador, A. & Pradell, T.. 2009. Identification of reaction compounds in micrometric layers from gothic paintings using combined SR-XRD and SR-FTIR. Talanta 79: 419–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2009.04.005CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Serpico, M. & White, R.. 2000. Oil, fat, wax, in Nicholson, P.T. & Shaw, I. (ed.) Ancient Egyptian materials and technology: 390–429. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Shepperson, M. 2010. South Tombs Cemetery: the upper site. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 96: 7–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/030751331009600101Google Scholar
Stacey, R.J. et al. 2018. Ancient encaustic: an experimental exploration of technology, aging behavior and approaches to analytical investigation. Microchemical Journal 138: 472–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2018.01.040CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevens, A. 2006. Private religion at Amarna: the material evidence. Oxford: Archaeopress.Google Scholar
Stevens, A. 2015. The archaeology of Amarna. Oxford handbooks online. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199935413.013.31CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevens, A. 2018. Death and the city: the cemeteries of Amarna in their urban context. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 28: 103–26. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774317000592CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevens, A. & Dabbs, G.. 2017. The North Tombs Cemetery excavations and skeletal analysis. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 103: 137–50.Google Scholar
Stevens, A., Shepperson, M. & Wetzel, M. King. 2013. The South Tombs Cemetery excavations, 2012 and 2013 seasons. Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 99: 2–14.Google Scholar
Weatherhead, F. & Kemp, B.J.. 2006. The main chapel at the Amarna workmen's village and its wall paintings. London: Egypt Exploration Society.Google Scholar
Weiss, L. 2015. Religious practice at Deir el-Medina. Leiden: Netherlands Institute for the Near East.Google Scholar