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
Ancient Greek units of measurement measures of length were named after parts of the body, such as the ("daktylos", plural: "daktyloi") or finger (having the size of a thumb), and the ("pous", plural: "podes") or foot (having the size of a shoe). The values of the units varied according to location and epoch (e.g., in Aegina a "pous" was approximately , whereas in Athens (Attica) it was about ), but the relative proportions were generally the same. The ordinary units used for land measurement were: Greeks measured volume according to either dry or liquid capacity, suited respectively to measuring grain and wine. A common unit