1. 800 Greek feet does not equal 440 cubits. (800 Egyptian feet[300mm] = 457 cubits)
2. There are websites that have figured out Herodotus description of the pyramid; one of the problems is that Herodotus is using Cubits and not Greek measurements; not in the pyramid section, but somewhere else in his History, he says an "acre" equals 100 cubits; this is the key to figuring out Herodotus measurements. Herodotus didn't get out a measuring tape... he was told the dimensions.
*****
[
home.hiwaay.net]
The area of each side of the pyramid is equal to the slant height of the pyramid times one half of the base length.
...
The area of the 280 cubit height of the pyramid squared is 78,400 square cubits (280x280=78,400).
*****
1 acre=10,000 squared cubits
8 acres=80,000 squared cubits
So Herodotus uses plethra to describe an "Egyptian Acre" or 1 square Khet; he is talking about area.
*****
If this interpretation is right...
"the area of the height squared=8 st3t(field)(sq khet)"...
... then the height should be 282.84 cubits (1% error).
Edited 9 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2007 12:14AM by rich.