Dave L Wrote:

> A large part of our understanding of Ancient
> Egyptian mensuration is based on the architectural
> details observed from the Old Kingdom,

Hi Dave,

I should have thought that since the side of the Great Pyramid is the longest built length available it should, provided the builders worked to a constant tolerance, provide the best estimate of the cubit used by Khufu = 0.5236 m. Legon showed that the upper passage system is laid out (slope/height) as 75/33 (ascending) and 88/39 (grand gallery) giving close correspondence to this cubit. I know of no other convincing layout proposal for these passages in terms of some other cubit.

At Dashur there is a range over 0.5232 to 0.5238. The King's Chamber gives 0.524.
To cut stones to dimension and erect them, a very large number of working rods made from wood would have been required. There would be "masters" and "submasters" and working rods periodically calibrated. Would this not account for these small variations?

poundr17