Converter

length · Ancient Egypt · Antiquity

Egyptian royal cubit

approx.
Record
M155
Definition quality
Historically reconstructed
Conversion mode
multiplicative
Calculator
Approximately calculable

Do not publish 52.000 cm as exact; display about 52 cm.

Definition

Surviving cubit rods support a seven-palm cubit = 28 fingers, reconstructed at about 52 cm.

Reference value

One Egyptian royal cubit is understood to be about 0.52 metres.

History & use

UCL documents surviving Middle Kingdom fragments and New Kingdom/Late Period rods; The Met shows cubit notation in New Kingdom architectural drawing.

Modern use

Retained primarily for historical, educational, or reference use rather than as a current standardized calculator unit.

Did you know?

A physical measuring tradition survives archaeologically: rods, inscriptions, and architectural measurements all reinforce the cubit system.

Documented variants

Sources & evidence

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