Ancient Egyptian units of measurement attested in Ptolemy's 2nd-century works. Ancient Egyptian units of measurement The ancient Egyptian units of measurement are those used by the dynasties of ancient Egypt prior to its incorporation in the Roman Empire and general adoption of Roman, Greek, and Byzantine units of measurement. The units of length seem to have originally been anthropic, based on various parts of the human body, although these were standardized using cubit rods, strands of rope, and official measures maintained at some temples. Following Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia and subsequent death, his bodyguard and successor Ptolemy assumed control in Egypt, partially reforming
The finger is once again explained in the "Suda", where it is said to mean "to touch the anus with a finger". Diogenes Laërtius records how the Cynic philosopher Diogenes of Sinope directed the gesture at the orator Demosthenes in 4th-century BC Athens. In the "Discourses of Epictetus", Diogenes's target is instead one of the sophists. In Latin, the middle finger was the "digitus impudicus", meaning the "shameless, indecent or offensive finger". In the 1st century AD, Persius had superstitious female relatives concoct a charm with the "infamous finger" ("digitus infamis") and "purifying spit"; while in the "Satyricon", an old woman uses