Egyptian units of measurement: Difference between revisions

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A number of units of measurement were used in Egypt to measure length, mass, area, capacity, etc. In Egypt, the metric system was made optional in 1873 and has been compulsory in government use since 1891.^[1]^[2]

Ancient Egyptian units of measurement

Units during the ending of the 19th century

A number of units were used in Egypt. Units and their interrelations were very variable in the national system.^[1] Since 1891 their metric equivalences have been defined.^[1]

Length

A number of units were used to measure length. One dirra baladi was equal to 0.58 m and one kassabah was equal to 3.55 m, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.^[1]^[2] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:^[1]^[2]^[3]

1 kirat = 1⁄24 dirra

1 abdat = 1⁄6 dirra

1 kadam = 1⁄2 dirra

1 pic = 1 dirra

1 gasab = 4 dirra

1 mil hachmi = 1000 dirra

1 farsakh = 3000 dirra

There were six kinds of derah (a.k.a. dirra) as follows:^[3] 1 Nile pic = 0.2545 m, 1 native pic (derah baladi) = 0.5682 m, 1 Constantinople pic (derah Istambuli) = 0.6691 m, 1 cloth pic (derah hendazeh) = 0.6479 m, 1 builder's pic (derah meimari) = 0.7500 m, 1 itinerary pic (aka. road-measure pic) = 0.7389 m.

Road Measures

One itenery derah was equal to 0.7389 m.^[3] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:^[1]^[2]

1 cassaba = 5 derah

1 bââh = 2+1⁄2 derah

1 mili = 500 cassabas = 1.148 mile (1.847 km)

1 farsakh (league) = 3 mili 1 baride = 4 farsakh

1 safar yome (of which 2+1⁄2 make 1° of the meridian = 60 mili) = 2 baride.

Mass

A number of units were used to measure mass. One oke was equal to 1.248 kg, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.^[1]^[2] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:^[1]^[2]

1 kirat = 1⁄6400 oke

1 dirhem = 1⁄400 oke

1 miskal = 8⁄800 oke

1 okieh = 0.03 oke

1 rotoli = 0.36 oke

1 kantar = 36 oke^[1]^[2]

1 helm = 200 oke^[1]^[2]

One harsela, used for weighing silk, is one oke.^[3]

Area

A number of units were used to measure area. One feddan was equal to 4200.8 m², according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.^[1]^[2] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:^[1]^[2]

1 sahme = 1⁄576 feddan

1 kirat kamel = 1⁄24 feddan^[1]^[2]^[3]

1 feddan masri = 1 feddan.

Squares of derah and cassaba (3.55 m) was used to partly measure lands.^[3]

Capacity

Two main systems, liquid and dry were used in Egypt.

Liquid Measure

One guirbeh was equal to 70.4467 quarts (66+2⁄3 litres).^[3]

Dry Measure

A number of units were used to measure capacity. One keddah was equal to 2.0625 l, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.^[1]^[2] Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:^[1]^[2]

1 kirat = 1⁄32 keddah

1 khanoubah = 1⁄16 keddah

1 toumnah = 1⁄8 keddah

1 robhah = 1⁄4 keddah

1 nisf keddah = 1⁄2 keddah

1 malouah = 2 keddah

1 rob (roubouh) = 4 keddah

1 keila = 8 keddah

1 ardeb = 96 keddah

1 daribah = 768 keddah

Before 1891, according to the report of the United States Commissioners to the Paris Exposition of 1867, 1 ardeb was equal to 2603 bushels (91.72 l).^[3] Other authorities give the ardeb = 5.1648 bushels.^[3] One ardeb of Alexandria was equal to 7.6907 bushels.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 6.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 128–130. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 28–29.

[:ict6-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 6.

[:esu128_130-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 128–130. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.

[:wmm28_29-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 28–29.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 A number of units were used to measure length. One dirra baladi was equal to 0.58 m and one kassabah was equal to 3.55 m, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130"/>  Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130"/><ref name=":wmm28_29">{{Cite book|title = Weights Measures and Money of All Nations|last = Clarke|first = F.W.|publisher = D. Appleton & Company |year = 1891|location = New York|pages = 28–29}}</ref>
-kirat = 1/24 dirra
+kirat = {{frac|1|24}} dirra
-abdat = 1/6 dirra
+abdat = {{frac|1|6}} dirra
-kadam = 1/2 dirra
+kadam = {{frac|1|2}} dirra
 pic = 1 dirra
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 cassaba = 5 derah
-bââh = 5/2 derah
+bââh = {{frac|2|1|2}} derah
 mili = 500 cassabas = 1.148 mile (1.847&nbsp;km)
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 baride = 4 farsakh
-safar yome (of which 2 1/2 make 1° of the meridian = 60 mili) = 2 baride.
+safar yome (of which {{frac|2|1|2}} make 1° of the meridian = 60 mili) = 2 baride.
 ===Mass===
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 A number of units were used to measure mass. One [[Oka (mass)|oke]] was equal to 1.248&nbsp;kg, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130"/> Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130"/>
-kirat = 1/6400 oke
+kirat = {{frac|1|6400}} oke
-[[dirhem]] = 1/400 oke
+[[dirhem]] = {{frac|1|400}} oke
-miskal = 8/800 oke
+miskal = {{frac|8|800}} oke
 okieh = 0.03 oke
@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 A number of units were used to measure area. One [[feddan]] was equal to 4200.8 m<sup>2</sup>, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130"/> Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130"/>
-sahme = 1/576 feddan
+sahme = {{frac|1|576}} feddan
-kirat kamel = 1/24 feddan<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130" /><ref name=":wmm28_29" />
+kirat kamel = {{frac|1|24}} feddan<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130" /><ref name=":wmm28_29" />
 feddan masri = 1 feddan.
@@ Line 88: / Line 88: @@
 ====Liquid Measure====
-One guirbeh was equal to 70.4467 quarts (66 2/3 litres).<ref name=":wmm28_29"/>
+One guirbeh was equal to 70.4467 quarts ({{frac|66|2|3}} litres).<ref name=":wmm28_29"/>
 ====Dry Measure====
@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 A number of units were used to measure capacity.  One keddah was equal to 2.0625 l, according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891.<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130"/> Some other units according to the metric equivalences defined in 1891 are given below:<ref name=":ict6" /><ref name=":esu128_130"/>
-kirat = 1/32 keddah
+kirat = {{frac|1|32}} keddah
-khanoubah = 1/16 keddah
+khanoubah = {{frac|1|16}} keddah
-toumnah = 1/8 keddah
+toumnah = {{frac|1|8}} keddah
-robhah = 1/4 keddah
+robhah = {{frac|1|4}} keddah
-nisf keddah = 1/2 keddah
+nisf keddah = {{frac|1|2}} keddah
 malouah = 2 keddah
-rob (aka. roubouh) = 4 keddah
+rob (roubouh) = 4 keddah
 keila = 8 keddah
 ardeb = 96 keddah