Ancient history

What were units of measurement called in ancient Egypt?

The ancient Egyptians used various systems of measurement, primarily based on the human body and everyday objects. These units of measurement were crucial in various aspects of daily life, including construction, trade, and land surveying. Here are some common units of measurement in ancient Egypt:

1. Cubit: The cubit was one of the most widely used units of length. It was based on the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. The standard royal cubit was approximately 52.3 centimeters or 20.6 inches.

2. Palm: The palm was another unit of length and represented the width of an average human palm. It was often used for measuring smaller objects and was approximately 7.5 centimeters or 2.95 inches.

3. Finger: The finger was a smaller unit of length, equivalent to the width of an average human finger. It was approximately 1.9 centimeters or 0.75 inches.

4. Deben: The deben was a unit of weight used for measuring precious metals, especially gold and silver. It was approximately 91 grams or 3.2 ounces.

5. Heqat: The heqat was a unit of volume primarily used for measuring grain and other dry goods. It was equivalent to approximately 4.8 liters or 1.3 gallons.

6. Artaba: The artaba was a larger unit of volume, equal to four heqats. It was used for measuring bulkier items such as grain and was approximately 19.2 liters or 5.1 gallons.

7. Iunet: The iunet was a unit of land measurement, roughly equivalent to an acre. It varied in size depending on the region and was based on the area that could be ploughed by a team of oxen in a day.

8. **Rod|: The rod was another unit of land measurement used in surveying. It was equivalent to 10 cubits or approximately 5.2 meters or 17 feet.

9. Iteru: The iteru was a unit of time, representing one hour or 1/12th of a day. The ancient Egyptians divided the day into 12 iteru, and each iteru was further subdivided into smaller units called "grains."

It's worth noting that some units of measurement in ancient Egypt could vary slightly depending on the time period and the specific region or context in which they were used.