Ancient Egyptian units of measurement

Coudée-turin

Bronze_vessel_used_a_capacity_measure._Inscribed_with_the_cartouches_of_the_birth-name_and_throne_name_of_Amenhotep_III._18th_Dynasty._From_Egypt._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology,_London

RMP-80

Green_glazed_faience_weight,_inscribed_for_the_high_Steward_Aabeni._Late_Middle_Kingdom._From_Abydos,_Egypt._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology,_London

Serpentine_weight_of_10_daric._Inscribed_for_Taharqa_in_the_midst_of_Sais._25th_Dynasty._From_Egypt,_probably_from_Nesaft._The_Petrie_Museum_of_Egyptian_Archaeology,_London

== Ancient Egyptian Units of Measurement ==

Ancient Egyptian units of measurement were used in Ancient Egypt from the Early Dynastic Period to the end of the Ptolemaic Period. These units were essential for various aspects of daily life, including construction, agriculture, and trade. The system was based on a combination of decimal and duodecimal (base-12) systems.

Length

The primary unit of length was the cubit, which was subdivided into smaller units. The most common cubit was the royal cubit, which was approximately 52.3 cm (20.6 inches). The royal cubit was divided into 7 palms, and each palm was further divided into 4 fingers, making a total of 28 fingers in a royal cubit.

• **Cubit (meh)**: The standard unit of length.
• **Royal cubit (meh nesut)**: A longer cubit used for more precise measurements.
• **Palm (shesep)**: 1/7 of a royal cubit.
• **Finger (djeba)**: 1/4 of a palm.

Area

The Egyptians used units of area primarily for measuring land. The most common unit was the setat, which was equivalent to a square khet.

• **Setat**: The primary unit of area, equivalent to a square khet.
• **Khet**: A unit of length used to define the setat.

Volume

Volume measurements were crucial for trade, especially in grains and liquids. The hekat was the primary unit of volume.

• **Hekat**: The primary unit of volume, used for measuring grains and other dry goods.
• **Hin**: A smaller unit of volume, often used for liquids.

Weight

Weight measurements were essential for trade and commerce. The deben was the primary unit of weight.

• **Deben**: The primary unit of weight, approximately 91 grams.
• **Kite**: A smaller unit of weight, 1/10 of a deben.

Time

The Egyptians had a sophisticated understanding of time, dividing the day into 24 hours and the year into 12 months.

• **Hour (sha)**: The basic unit of time, with 24 hours in a day.
• **Month (abd)**: The basic unit of the calendar, with 12 months in a year.

Related Pages

• Ancient Egypt
• Egyptian calendar
• Ancient Egyptian technology
• History of measurement