Ancient Egyptian Surveying - Revision history

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			[[Category:Measuring and Surveying]]
	[[Category:Ancient Egypt]]		[[Category:Ancient Egypt]]

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[[File:Giza pyramid complex (map).svg|right|400px|Giza pyramid complex (map)|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex]]
Egypt is regarded as the home of the first known [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveying '''Surveyors''']. Surveying was necessary in Ancient Egypt because the annual floods buried or destroyed boundary markers, which then had to be re-established for ownership of the fields.

The Egyptians developed a system of measurements based on the human arm:
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit#The_Egyptian_royal_cubit '''Cubit'''] = the length from the bent elbow to the tips of the fingers;
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_(unit) '''Palm'''] = the width of the palm of the hand;
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digit_(unit) '''Digit'''] = width of the human fingers.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_units_of_measurement '''Rod or Cord'''] = 100 '''Cubits'''

So four '''Digits''' equal one '''Palm''' and seven '''Palms''' equal one '''Cubit''' - the wooden [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit '''Cubit Rod'''], one '''Cubit''' long, was marked in '''Palm''' and '''Digit''' divisions and used by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architect '''Architects'''] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveying '''Surveyors'''] as we now use our modern '''[[Rules and Straight Edges|Rules]]'''.

The Egyptian phrase for a surveyor was a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope_stretcher '''Rope Stretcher'''] and surveying was known as '''‘stretching a rope’''' - a rope or cord calibrated with knots placed at regular intervals, was one of the tools used in surveying larger distances ''(measuring cords may have been 100 Cubits long since since the number 100 is represented by a picture of a rope in '''[[Hieroglyphics|Hieroglyphs]]''' - any longer and the cord might have been too difficult to stretch tight)''.

It is thought that the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt '''Ancient Egyptians'''] were not familiar with what we now know as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem '''Pythagoras' Theorem'''] but it seems their knotted cord or rope enabled them to set out right angles using the special case of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_right_triangle '''3-4-5 Triangle'''] and testing for '''[[Squareness|Square]]''' by checking the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagonal '''Diagonals'''].

The main unit of area was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_units_of_measurement#Area '''Setat''']. This was equal to one square '''Khet''' ''(aka '''Rod''' or '''Cord''')'' of 100 cubits. The '''Setat''' could be divided into strips one '''Khet''' long and ten '''Cubit''' wide.

In addition to '''Cubit Rods''' and knotted '''Cords''', the '''Ancient Egyptian''' surveyors used '''[[Squares|Builders' Squares]]''', '''[[Ancient Egyptian Survey Tools|Plum Bobs]]''', '''[[Ancient Egyptian Survey Tools|Gromas]]''' and '''[[Ancient Egyptian Survey Tools|Square Levels]]''' to check for '''[[Squareness]]''' and testing for vertical or level. Checking that long distances were level may have been achieved by filling trenches with water and alignments with stars established using a device known as a '''[[Ancient Egyptian Survey Tools|Merkhet]]'''.

Using such basic equipment the Pyramids were built and aligned with astonishing accuracy. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza '''Great Pyramid at Giza ''(Khufu)'''''] has been measured at 231 meters square and the largest discrepancy is 30cm between the north and west sides - but the difference between the north and east sides is only 6cm!

Each of the pyramids at Giza have the same slope angles. They are aligned very accurately to the north-south axis and in relation to each other except that the smaller '''Pyramid of Menkaure''' is offset. This gave rise to a theory that the group of pyramids is designed to reflect the star constellation of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_correlation_theory '''Orion'''] and that the internal passages of '''Khufu''' point to certain stars - but this theory is not generally accepted.

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<span style="color: blue">'''Activity:'''
Make some model Ancient Egyptiian survey tools and survey your own room - or house. What are the dimensions in '''Cubits'''? Is everything vertical or horizontal? What is the area of your garden in '''Setats'''?
</span>
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{{Stripwood Frames Buyers Guide}}

[[Category:Primary]]
[[Category:Ancient Egypt]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:12, 1 March 2017
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[File:Giza pyramid complex (map).svg\|right\|400px\|Giza pyramid complex (map)\|link=~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex]]		[[File:Giza pyramid complex (map).svg\|right\|400px\|Giza pyramid complex (map)\|link=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex]]
	Egypt is regarded as the home of the first known [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveying '''Surveyors''']. Surveying was necessary in Ancient Egypt because the annual floods buried or destroyed boundary markers, which then had to be re-established for ownership of the fields.		Egypt is regarded as the home of the first known [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveying '''Surveyors''']. Surveying was necessary in Ancient Egypt because the annual floods buried or destroyed boundary markers, which then had to be re-established for ownership of the fields.


	The Egyptians developed a system of measurements based on the human arm:		The Egyptians developed a system of measurements based on the human arm:
	* [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit#The_Egyptian_royal_cubit '''Cubit'''] = the length from the bent elbow to the tips of the fingers;		* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit#The_Egyptian_royal_cubit '''Cubit'''] = the length from the bent elbow to the tips of the fingers;
	* [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_(unit) '''Palm'''] = the width of the palm of the hand;		* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_(unit) '''Palm'''] = the width of the palm of the hand;
	* [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digit_(unit) '''Digit'''] = width of the human fingers.		* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digit_(unit) '''Digit'''] = width of the human fingers.
	* [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_units_of_measurement '''Rod or Cord'''] = 100 '''Cubits'''		* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_units_of_measurement '''Rod or Cord'''] = 100 '''Cubits'''

	So four '''Digits''' equal one '''Palm''' and seven '''Palms''' equal one '''Cubit''' - the wooden [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit '''Cubit Rod'''], one '''Cubit''' long, was marked in '''Palm''' and '''Digit''' divisions and used by [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architect '''Architects'''] and [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveying '''Surveyors'''] as we now use our modern '''[[Rules and Straight Edges\|Rules]]'''.		So four '''Digits''' equal one '''Palm''' and seven '''Palms''' equal one '''Cubit''' - the wooden [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit '''Cubit Rod'''], one '''Cubit''' long, was marked in '''Palm''' and '''Digit''' divisions and used by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architect '''Architects'''] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveying '''Surveyors'''] as we now use our modern '''[[Rules and Straight Edges\|Rules]]'''.


	The Egyptian phrase for a surveyor was a [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope_stretcher '''Rope Stretcher'''] and surveying was known as '''‘stretching a rope’''' - a rope or cord calibrated with knots placed at regular intervals, was one of the tools used in surveying larger distances ''(measuring cords may have been 100 Cubits long since since the number 100 is represented by a picture of a rope in '''[[Hieroglyphics\|Hieroglyphs]]''' - any longer and the cord might have been too difficult to stretch tight)''.		The Egyptian phrase for a surveyor was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rope_stretcher '''Rope Stretcher'''] and surveying was known as '''‘stretching a rope’''' - a rope or cord calibrated with knots placed at regular intervals, was one of the tools used in surveying larger distances ''(measuring cords may have been 100 Cubits long since since the number 100 is represented by a picture of a rope in '''[[Hieroglyphics\|Hieroglyphs]]''' - any longer and the cord might have been too difficult to stretch tight)''.


	It is thought that the [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt '''Ancient Egyptians'''] were not familiar with what we now know as the [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem '''Pythagoras' Theorem'''] but it seems their knotted cord or rope enabled them to set out right angles using the special case of a [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_right_triangle '''3-4-5 Triangle'''] and testing for '''[[Squareness\|Square]]''' by checking the [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagonal '''Diagonals'''].		It is thought that the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt '''Ancient Egyptians'''] were not familiar with what we now know as the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem '''Pythagoras' Theorem'''] but it seems their knotted cord or rope enabled them to set out right angles using the special case of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_right_triangle '''3-4-5 Triangle'''] and testing for '''[[Squareness\|Square]]''' by checking the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagonal '''Diagonals'''].


	The main unit of area was the [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_units_of_measurement#Area '''Setat''']. This was equal to one square '''Khet''' ''(aka '''Rod''' or '''Cord''')'' of 100 cubits. The '''Setat''' could be divided into strips one '''Khet''' long and ten '''Cubit''' wide.		The main unit of area was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_units_of_measurement#Area '''Setat''']. This was equal to one square '''Khet''' ''(aka '''Rod''' or '''Cord''')'' of 100 cubits. The '''Setat''' could be divided into strips one '''Khet''' long and ten '''Cubit''' wide.


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	Using such basic equipment the Pyramids were built and aligned with astonishing accuracy. The [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza '''Great Pyramid at Giza ''(Khufu)'''''] has been measured at 231 meters square and the largest discrepancy is 30cm between the north and west sides - but the difference between the north and east sides is only 6cm!		Using such basic equipment the Pyramids were built and aligned with astonishing accuracy. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza '''Great Pyramid at Giza ''(Khufu)'''''] has been measured at 231 meters square and the largest discrepancy is 30cm between the north and west sides - but the difference between the north and east sides is only 6cm!


	Each of the pyramids at Giza have the same slope angles. They are aligned very accurately to the north-south axis and in relation to each other except that the smaller '''Pyramid of Menkaure''' is offset. This gave rise to a theory that the group of pyramids is designed to reflect the star constellation of [~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_correlation_theory '''Orion'''] and that the internal passages of '''Khufu''' point to certain stars - but this theory is not generally accepted.		Each of the pyramids at Giza have the same slope angles. They are aligned very accurately to the north-south axis and in relation to each other except that the smaller '''Pyramid of Menkaure''' is offset. This gave rise to a theory that the group of pyramids is designed to reflect the star constellation of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orion_correlation_theory '''Orion'''] and that the internal passages of '''Khufu''' point to certain stars - but this theory is not generally accepted.

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