Egyptian units of measurement
A number of
Ancient Egyptian units of measurement
Units during the ending of the 19th century
A number of units were used in Egypt. Units and their interrelations were very variable in the national system.[1] Since 1891 their metric equivalences have been defined.[1]
Length
A number of units were used to measure length. One derah baladi was equal to 0.58 m and one kassabah was equal to 3.55 m, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.[1][2] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:[1][2][3]
1 kirat = 1⁄24 dirra
1 abdat = 1⁄6 dirra
1 kadam = 1⁄2 dirra
1 pic = 1 dirra
1 gasab = 4 dirra
1 mil hachmi = 1000 dirra
1
There were six kinds of derah (a.k.a. dirra) as follows:[3] 1 Nile pic = 0.2545 m, 1 native pic (derah baladi) = 0.5682 m, 1 Constantinople pic (derah Istambuli) = 0.6691 m, 1 cloth pic (derah hendazeh) = 0.6479 m, 1 builder's pic (derah meimari) = 0.7500 m, 1 itinerary pic (aka. road-measure pic) = 0.7389 m.
Road Measures
One itenery derah was equal to 0.7389 m.[3] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:[1][2]
1 cassaba = 5 derah
1 bââh = 2+1⁄2 derah
1 mili = 500 cassabas = 1.148 mile (1.847 km)
1
1 safar yome (of which 2+1⁄2 make 1° of the meridian = 60 mili) = 2 baride.
Mass
A number of units were used to measure mass. One oke was equal to 1.248 kg, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.[1][2] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:[1][2]
1 kirat = 1⁄6400 oke
1
1 miskal = 8⁄800 oke
1 okieh = 0.03 oke
1 rotoli = 0.36 oke
One harsela, used for weighing silk, is one oke.[3]
Area
A number of units were used to measure area. One feddan was equal to 4200.8 m2, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.[1][2] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:[1][2]
1 sahme = 1⁄576 feddan
1 kirat kamel = 1⁄24 feddan[1][2][3]
1 feddan masri = 1 feddan.
Squares of derah and cassaba (3.55 m) was used to partly measure lands.[3]
Capacity
Two main systems, liquid and dry were used in Egypt.
Liquid Measure
One guirbeh was equal to 70.4467 quarts (66+2⁄3 litres).[3]
Dry Measure
A number of units were used to measure capacity. One keddah was equal to 2.0625 L, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.[1][2] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:[1][2]
1 kirat = 1⁄32 keddah
1 khanoubah = 1⁄16 keddah
1 toumnah = 1⁄8 keddah
1 robhah = 1⁄4 keddah
1 nisf keddah = 1⁄2 keddah
1 malouah = 2 keddah
1 rob (roubouh) = 4 keddah
1 keila = 8 keddah
1 ardeb = 96 keddah
1 daribah = 768 keddah
Before 1891, according to the report of the United States Commissioners to the Paris Exposition of 1867, 1 ardeb was equal to 2.603 bushels (91.72 L).[3] Other authorities give the ardeb = 5.1648 bushels.[3] One ardeb of Alexandria was equal to 7.6907 bushels.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 6.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 28–29.