Traditionally, the cochlear was used for eating eggs and snails, with the pointed end of the handle serving to pull snails from their shells or pierce eggshells. Unlike the Roman ligula, which typically has a larger, oval bowl and a blunt handle, the cochlear is characterized by a smaller, often circular bowl and a straight, tapered handle. While the ligula was primarily used for stirring or ladling soups and sauces, the cochlear served as a specialized utensil, the end of which could also function as a substitute for a fork for smaller pieces of food.