Technikatörténeti szemle 9. (1977)

A MÉRÉS ÉS A MÉRTÉK AZ EMBERI MŰVELŐDÉSBEN című konferencián Budapesten 1976. április 27–30-án elhangzott előadások I. rész - Bowsher, H. F.: Régi mértékegységek fejlődése

value. Evidence indicates that the builders were able to maintain very close tolerances. The Pyramid is aligned very close to the four cardinal directions. The base of the Pyramid is very nearly square and the lengths of the four sides are nearly identical. The largest difference between any two base lengths as stated by J. H. Cole is less than one part in a thousand of the average base length. A proposed value will be given for the intended length of the sides of the base. This intended value is based on the assumption that the cubits used in the construction of a number of ancient monuments were related te each other by simple ratios even though these monuments were built over a period of two thousand years. With this approach the measurements of each important, well-preserved ancient monument can be used to suggest information about a number of ancient cubits as well as the intended dimensions of the various monuments. The value of 9072 English inches for the intended length of each side of the base of the Great Pyramid of Giza seems to best meet the above conditions. The cubit used in the construction of this pyramid was, therefore, set equal to 18.144 English inches. This cubit is referred to in literature as the pyramid, quatorial or geographical cubit. There were 240 000 equatorial cubits or 360 000 equatorial feet to a degree of latitude. The circumference of the earth would have been considered as 86 400 000 equatorial cubits or 129 600 000 equatorial feet. This corresponds to a value of the earth's circumference equal to 130 636 800 English feet. According to the value obtained by Hayfort in 1910, the circumference of the earth is 131 484 632 English feet. A difference of less than 1% exists between the two values. Another way of stating the significance of the equatorial cubit is that it equals the distance at the equator the sun's shadow moves from east to west in one thousandth of a second. Other values proposed for the equatorial cubit are 18 138 English inches (Stecchini), 18 1417 English inches (Lorenzen) and 18 181 English inches (Jomard). Tomard determined there were 400 larger PKY—Belady cubits of 22.7283 English inches in the base length of the Pyramid. The value proposed in this paper is 22,68 English inches in the PKY—Belady cubit. The foot and cubit of Thebes, which was the capital of Egypt during the time of the New Kingdom, are known to be 9/10 of the equatorial foot and cubit, respectively. The proposed values are: Cubit of Thebes equals 16.3296 English inches. Foot of Thebes equals 10.8864 English inches. Thebes was located 2/7 of the way from the equator to the north pole. A degree of longitude at Thebes would be 9/10 of a degree at the equator; therefore, the cubit of Thebes has the same geographical significance at the latitude of Thebes as the equatorial cubit has at the equator. In ancient Egypt there were 14 atur to a degree of latitude. The atur would then equal 25,920 English feet. There Were 15,000 royal cubits to the atur; therefore, the royal cubit has been set equal to 20.736 English units.