An Ancient Relation between Units of Length and Volume Based on a Sphere

作者:Zapassky Elena*; Gadot Yuval; Finkelstein Israel; Benenson Itzhak
来源:PLos One, 2012, 7(3): e33895.
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0033895

摘要

The modern metric system defines units of volume based on the cube. We propose that the ancient Egyptian system of measuring capacity employed a similar concept, but used the sphere instead. When considered in ancient Egyptian units, the volume of a sphere, whose circumference is one royal cubit, equals half a hekat. Using the measurements of large sets of ancient containers as a database, the article demonstrates that this formula was characteristic of Egyptian and Egyptian-related pottery vessels but not of the ceramics of Mesopotamia, which had a different system of measuring length and volume units.

  • 出版日期2012-3-28