Volume, Capacity and Weight
Several problems in the mathematical papyri deal with volume questions. For example in RMP 42 the volume of a circular granary is computed as part of the problem and units of cubic cubits, khar, quadruple heqats and heqats are used.
Problem 80 on the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus recorded how to divide grain (measured in heqats), a topic included in RMP 42 into smaller units called henu:
The text states: As for vessels (debeh) used in measuring grain by the functionaries of the granary, done into henu : 1 hekat makes 10 ; 1/2 makes 5 ; 1/4 makes 2½ etc.
| Name | Egyptian name | Equivalent Egyptian values | Metric Equivalent | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deny | deny | 1 cubic cubit | |||||
| Khar (sack) |
|
20 heqat (Middle Kingdom) 16 heqat (New Kingdom) |
96.5 liters (Middle Kingdom) 76.8 liters (New Kingdom) |
||||
| quadruple heqat |
|
4 heqat = 40 hinu | 19.2 liters | ||||
| double heqat | hekaty | 2 heqat = 20 hinu | 9.6 liters | ||||
| Heqat (barrel) |
|
10 hinu | 4.8 liters | ||||
| Hinu (jar) |
|
1/10 heqat = 32 ro | .48 liters | ||||
| Dja | dja | 5/8 hinu = 20 ro | .3 liters | ||||
| Ro |
|
1/320 heqat | .015 liters |
Weights were measured in terms of deben. This unit would have been equivalent to 13.6 grams in the Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom. During the New Kingdom however it was equivalent to 91 grams. For smaller amounts the kite (1/10 of a deben) and the shematy (1/12 of a deben) were used.
| Name | Egyptian name | Equivalent Egyptian values | Metric Equivalent | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deben |
|
13.6 grams in the Old Kingdom and Middle Kingdom. 91 grams during the New Kingdom |
|||||
| Kite |
|
1/10 of a deben | |||||
| Shematy | shȝts | 1/12 of a deben |
Read more about this topic: Ancient Egyptian Units Of Measurement
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