Jammer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MJ,
>
> Am I correct that recovered samples seem to
> indicate a wandering or lax specification to
> "Cubits"?

Hello Jammer,

AFAIAA, there doesn’t appear to have been a standard royal cubit length that remained constant for more than, say, a few years at a time.
I have read somewhere that Khufu had the royal cubit standardised, but I don’t recall there being any actual evidence for this.

A lot of researchers think that a number of fractionally different lengths of royal cubits were used in the construction of Khufu’s pyramid.
Unfortunately, they think this because they take a certain actual dimension in inches or millimetres and divide it by a royal cubit length in inches or millimetres that gives a whole number result.
Typical examples (measurements after Petrie):

1) The length of Ascending Passage floor line from its intersection with the floor of the Descending Passage to the north wall of the Grand Gallery is 1546.8”
1546.8” divided by 20.6” = 75.087 royal cubits – rounded = 75rc
Therefore, royal cubit used for the Ascending Passage = 1546.8” divided by 75 = 20.624”/523.8mms

2) The width of the Queens' Chamber = average 205.682”
205.68” divided by 20.6” = 9.984 royal cubits – rounded = 10rc
Therefore, royal cubit used for the Queens' Chamber = 205.68” divided by 10 = 20.568”/522.4mms

3) Length of Descending Passage floor from entrance to Descending Passage /Ascending Passage floor line intersection = 1110.64”
1110.64” divided by 20.6” = 53.915 royal cubits – rounded = 54rc
Therefore, royal cubit used for the length of Descending Passage floor from entrance to Descending Passage /Ascending Passage floor line intersection = 1110.64” divided by 54 = 20.567”/522.4mms

4) Perimeter of base = 36275.2”
36275.2” divided by 20.6” = 1760.931 royal cubits = rounded 1760rc
Therefore, royal cubit used for the base = 36275.2” divided by 1760 = 20.61”/523.5mms
Some have gone so far as to take each side separately, resulting in a fractionally different royal cubit for each one.

I think we are wrong to round up or round down measurements just to suit our desire for nice, neat whole numbers.
The measurements are what they are.
The King's Chamber with its meticulously finished (for the most part) granite walls and precision fitted joints is ideal as an alternative to the actual royal cubit rod used in the construction of this Pyramid.
Consequently, if the King's Chamber’s royal cubit of 20.632”/524mms gives, for example, the Ascending Passage floor line as 74.971 royal cubits (which it does), then that is what it is and what it was probably intended to be – and not a more-convenient-for-us 75 royal cubits @ 20.624”/523.8mms.

Incidentally, the east end of the Queens' Chamber’s north and south walls have a distinct, fairly uniform lean northward, and this “distorts” the actual width of the Chamber at the east wall.
A correction of these leans shows that the royal cubit used in the Queens' Chamber was certainly the same as that used in the King's Chamber.


> I would assume as an engineer the critical
> consideration was making sure all the cubits on a
> single project were identical.

> Kah's "working ruler" versus "Ceremonial Reward
> Cubit" are particularly enlightening, one being a
> working tool and the other a symbol of
> achievement.
>
> (halfway down picture shows the working tool)

> I have no doubt Petrie's average is correct, but
> than the average family has 2.5 kids yet I know no
> one with 1/2 a child.
>
> Might the assumption the cubit evolved over the 2
> millennium of empire?

IMO, a single royal cubit equivalent to 20.632”/524mms was used in the planning of the entire Pyramid of Khufu, and this was the unit of measurement actually used throughout its construction.
Now, whether or not this royal cubit of 20.632”/524mms was used elsewhere by others is, I think, another matter.
However, as I hold that the royal cubit is anthropometric in origin and the king was probably the anthropoid, I would expect, say, Khafre’s royal cubit to be slightly different to his father’s.
Hmm. I wonder what would have happened if the king’s successor had arms like an orang-utan’s…

Regards,

MJ

We can't all be right, but we could all be wrong ...