Re:The Meter, Golden Ratio, Pyramids, and Cubits, Oh My
by Xmd5a on Tuesday March 04, 2025 @10:21AM
(#43255817)
Length of Nippur cubit: 51.84 ± 0.02 cm
Ratio to Egyptian cubit: 99/100
Divided into 28 fingers (each finger = 1.8514 cm)
Relationship to Other Measurements
One Roman foot = 24/25 of a Greek foot
One Roman foot = 35/36 of an English foot
One small egyptian cubit = 44.45cm = 6/7 of a Nippur cubit
One Roman foot = 16 fingers = 1.852 x 16 = 29.63 cm
One Nippur cubit = 28 fingers = 1.852 x 28 = 51.84 cm ±0.02 = 4/7 of one Roman foot
Pyramid Measurements in Nippur Cubits
Great Pyramid base: 440 Egyptian cubits = 444.4 Nippur cubits
Great Pyramid height: 280 Egyptian cubits = 282.8 Nippur cubits
Mathematical Connections
Pyramid height (282.8 Nippur cubits):
- √8 = 2.828
- 200*√2 = 282,8 (the height of the Great Pyramid) = 100*√8
Base diagonal:
- 628.43 cubits = 200*π
Finger measurement:
- 1/100,000 of a mean meridian minute (99.95% precision)
The silver number: 1 + √2
Some properties:
1.414 + 1 = 2.414
1 / 2.414 = 0.414
1.414 – 1 = 1 / 2.414
Using the Nippur cubit as measurement unit, the height of the Great Pyramid measures 200 × the silver ratio, and the diagonal of the pyramid's base measures 200 × π!
The perimeter of the Great Pyramid measures half an arc minute of Earth's meridian with 99.98% accuracy, which is equivalent to the measurement made by Méchain and Delambre at the end of the 18th century, after 7 years of measurements and 9 years of calculations…
Source: https://www.messagedelanuitdestemps.org/de-la-coudee-de-nipp...
I was struck by the idea that understanding the arc of movement in the heavens is one of the few natural round things I can think of. The arc can also only be proven through observation and measurement over great time.
Finally I see the cubit as intersection human scale ergonomics with celestial movement.
When I set up my shop a posted a scale based on Nippur Cubits. Which I have defined as 518.5 mm. I'm thinking I should make some adjustments.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Mesopotamian_units_of_...
I got a lot out of this article but I'm cubit curious.