Variation in the length of the cones is considerable. For instance, the longest cone, which was found at El-Tarif, is 52.5 cm (=1 cubit). On the other hand, cones belonging to the viceroy of Kush, Merymose is relatively short. The one stored in the Náprstek Museum (P 2003) measures 14.4 cm (Suková 2004: 94)
There is no manner of determining whether the cones became shorter or longer over the years; this is because most of the examples available are either accidentally chipped or artificially broken by both plunderers and scholars for transportation.
Last updated on 23rd Dec. 2011.