Forms

Most of the funerary cones can be classified into the following four types: pyramidal (Fig. 1), brick-formed (Fig. 2), sledge-formed (Fig. 3), and conical (Figs. 4–6). However, horn-shaped ( MAF: 2356 = Davies & Macadam # 594.) and trumpet-shaped ( MAF: 2357 = Davies & Macadam # 385 & MAF: 2367 = Davies & Macadam # 170.) cones are also present at the Museo Archeologico di Firenze (Florence), Italy (Pellegrini 1902: 38, 41, and 47). In addition, Kunsthistorisches Museum in Wien, Austria, has another rare type of cone (Fig. 7); this bone-shaped cone belongs to Djedhor, whose other cones are also housed in the same museum. Nevertheless, more significant are the double-headed and triple-headed cones, albeit there is only one example at present (Figs. 8-9. Both of them originated in TT 11 - the tomb of Djehuty. Triple-headed cone is referred to in Galán and Borrego 2007: Fig. 37.).

Each cone bears the name of an ancient official and his title, which is stamped on the face of the cone; the average diameter of the surface base is between 5 to 10 centimetres. While some Egyptians had several types of cones that bore the same seal, others, such as the owner of TT 32 whose cones are Davies & Macadam # 336 and # 346, only had the brick type. Therefore, while the term 'funerary cone' is used in English, the Germans refer to it with the following two terms: Grabkegel (tomb's cone) and Friesziegel (ornamental brick). Donald Ryan, who possesses considerable knowledge about cones, suggested that funerary cones be termed 'funerary stamps' (Ryan 1988). Erño Gaál, a Spanish archaeologist who excavated TT 32, referred to the unearthed objects bearing seals # 336 and # 346 as 'stamped bricks' (Gaál 1993). Thus, the conical-shaped funerary cones are not exclusive. However, since they are the most abundant, this website refers to all such objects as 'cones', except when specific types are indicated.