The Cubit – Measuring Scale

The Cubit – Measuring Scale

cu·bit
–noun
an ancient linear unit based on the length of the forearm, from elbow to the tip of the middle finger, usually from 17 to 21 in. (43 to 53 cm).


Cubit's in the ancient world:

The cubit is one of the first recorded units of length used by ancient people. Depending on where in the world you live the cubit had a slightly different meaning. Generally speaking the cubit refers to the length between your elbow and the tip of the middle finger. Generally speaking a cubit is 45.72 centimetres or 18 inches (2) but this figure obviously changes based on who's forearm is being measured.

The earliest recorded standard measure was called the Royal Cubit which was 20.61 to 20.63 inches in length. This measurement was used in early construction and is known to be used in the building of the Step Pyramid of Dioser around 2,700BC. (3)

Different measurements based on Cubits: (4)

Egypt:

1 ordinary cubit = 6 Palms or 24 digits (450mm)
1 royal cubit or “meh” = 7 Palms or 28 digits (524mm)
100 royal cubits = 1 “khet” (52.4m)

Mesopotamia:

1 cubit varied between 522mm to 532mm
1 foot was equal to 2/3 cubit
1 digit was equal to 1/30 cubit

Persia:

1 cubit (“arasni”) was 520mm to 543mm
½ cubit (“vitasti” or “charac”)
2 cubits is 1 “guz”

Roman Empire:

18 inches = 1 cubit (“cubitus”)

Biblical References:

1 digit (“esba”) = 18.75mm
4 digits = 1 palm (“tophah”)
24 digits or 6 palms = 1 small cubit or (“amma”)
7 palms = 1 old cubit

Bro Ken's Freaky-Deaky Cubit: (5)

Right Cubit = 17.5 inches
Left Cubit = 17 inches

The Pillars at King Solomons Temple:

Teachings would have us believe that the Pillars at King Solomons Temple were 18 Cubits in Height, 12 cubits in circumference, hollow brass and a hands breadth thickness of approximately 4 inches. All topped off by a 5 cubit chapiter.

Measuring with the biblical reference lengths of an old cubit this would translate to:

1 digit = 18.75 mm
1 palm = 75 mm
1 cubit = 525 mm (0.525 m or 1.722 feet)
18 cubit = 9,450 mm (9.45 m or 31 feet)
Add the additional 5 cubits for the chapiters
18 cubit (pillar) + 5 cubit (chapiter) = 23 Cubits or 12.075 m (39.616 feet)

I have to admit that I'm surprised at the scale of the pillars. If you based the pillars on the modern measure of 18 inches per cubit you would find the pillar slightly smaller, but still massive in size.


Refs:
1 – Dictionary.com Unabridged V1.1 2006
2 – Google Calculator
3 – Wikipedia – Cubit – The Egyptian Royal Cubit and Sumerian Nippur cubit
4 – Antiquity and Bible – Jack Proot (website)
5 - Measured my arms on May 7, 2008