For a long time, researchers have speculated about the meanings hidden behind the peculiar wax hats worn by the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt. The oldest known burials where archaeologists discovered these mysterious headpieces, roughly the size of a coffee cup, date back around 3,300 years.
The Mystery from the Banks of the Nile
Many works of ancient Egyptian art created between 1550 and 30 B.C. depict men and women adorned with small conical decorations on their heads. One notable example is a painting found inside the tomb of Nakht in the Valley of the Nobles, where all the women are seen wearing this accessory.
Interestingly, the people who wore these hats engaged in a variety of activities. For instance, they wore them while hunting and at funerals, and they played musical instruments. Women often donned these headpieces during childbirth, as reported by Live Science.
Until recently, archaeologists had only seen these hats in artistic representations and had never found them in tombs. However, in 2019, an international team of researchers uncovered two burials in cemeteries at Amarna, an archaeological site in Ancient Egypt that once served as its capital. The findings were detailed in the journal Antiquity.
In these burials, scientists discovered skeletons with cones on their heads. The team hypothesized that this accessory was more than just a piece of clothing. Analysis of the remains indicated that the cones were made from beeswax and that the owners of these unusual headpieces were not wealthy individuals. Most likely, they were workers who were undernourished.
However, these conclusions did not clarify the purpose of the hats. One theory suggested that they were made from scented wax balm, which released a pleasant aroma when melted (and neutralized unpleasant odors). According to another theory, the cones were believed to aid in conception, as they frequently appeared in paintings alongside the fertility goddess Hathor.
Researchers proposed that the ancient Egyptian conical headdresses were primarily associated with rituals related to sensuality, sexuality, and fertility. However, it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions on this topic.