The past week has produced a variety of responses to the simple question “…why was the Royal cubit divided equally into 28 segments known as “digits”” or “fingers”…”
There is no definite answer…perhaps there never will be, nor is there an answer to when the measure was first introduced and why it’s particular length selected.

There are sample rulers that have survived the centuries and are presently on display in several world-renown museums, unfortunately I do not have access to them for closer study.
What I do possess are two sketches printed in “The Secrets of the Great Pyramid” by Peter Tompkins.
I combined section A from his first illustration of a ruler on display at the Turin Museum with section B of his second illustration titled “Royal Egyptian cubit of Memphis” but its whereabouts is unspecified.



I do not believe that the grayed symbols of gods on the top row are significant to the actual use of the ruler. But the dark symbols and their location above the number count must be relevant to the operator...any ideas?



It is section B that intrigues me the most and I have shaded and noted the six individual groups marked: A, B, C, D, E and F.
It took some time to realize that the shaded divisions are set in place allow the user to count or “mark off” any value from 1-13 using “string” addition.
An example: sections BCDE total 10, while CDE total 9…ABCD total 8, while DEF total 7.
What has me scratching this graying head of mine are the symbols of count attached to each digit. Why is 16 and 17 identical in value (2 cubits 3 palms) as is 18-23 (2 cubits) and 25-28 (1 cubit 4 palms) with 24 being a single value (2 cubits 2 digits) ?
Any ideas out there?

BTW...moderators...my drawings !

Best.
Clive




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/12/2007 09:49PM by Clive.