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Funerary cone of Merymose
Egyptian
New Kingdom, late Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III and later
1390–1295 B.C.
Object Place: Egypt, Thebes (Qurnet Murai), Likely from tomb 383
Medium/Technique
Pottery
Dimensions
Height x diameter: 3.6 x 6.6 cm (1 7/16 x 2 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession NumberRES.72.321
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Egypt, Nubia and the Near East
ClassificationsArchitectural elements
Catalogue Raisonné
Davies & MacAdam 170
DescriptionFunerary cone fragment of reddish clay with tapering cone element broken off. Considerable remnants of red paint on head end, which also carries a circular stamp of three divided columns of hieroglyphic text. Head slightly battered along bottom edges. Text identifies the owner as "One Honored by Osiris, King's Son of Kush Merymose" (imAxy xr Wsir sa-nswt n KS Mr(y)-ms). This individual was under King Amenhotep III of Dynasty 18.
Funerary cones were components of a frieze, inserted above the doors of private tombs, particularly in the Theban region. They have been variously interpreted as: name-plates of sorts to identify the tomb owner, decorative memorials, boundary markers for a tomb, dummy bread loaves or meat offerings, symbolic roof beams, or (for the visible circular head) depictions of the sun disk.
For other examples of this tomb owner and stamp see: RES.72.319, RES.72.320.
Davies and Macadam, A Corpus of Inscribed Egyptian Funerary Cones (1957), type #170.
Funerary cones were components of a frieze, inserted above the doors of private tombs, particularly in the Theban region. They have been variously interpreted as: name-plates of sorts to identify the tomb owner, decorative memorials, boundary markers for a tomb, dummy bread loaves or meat offerings, symbolic roof beams, or (for the visible circular head) depictions of the sun disk.
For other examples of this tomb owner and stamp see: RES.72.319, RES.72.320.
Davies and Macadam, A Corpus of Inscribed Egyptian Funerary Cones (1957), type #170.
ProvenanceProbably from tomb 383, Qurnet Murai (Thebes). By 1836: Robert Hay Collection, Linplum, Scotland; 1863: to his son, Robert James Alexander Hay; 1868-1872: Way Collection, Boston (purchased by Samuel A. Way through London dealers Rollin and Feuardent, 27 Haymarket); 1872: given to the MFA by Samuel's son, C. Granville Way.
(Accession Date: June 28, 1872)
(Accession Date: June 28, 1872)