Ancient MeasuresANCIENT UNITS OF MEASUREMENT Test

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Test Lab · Infographic

Three Greek feet, one ruler

Compare three source-bound estimates at a common scale.

The same count gives three lengths

Each row uses a count of 600 feet. Read the lengths from the same zero on the metre scale.

Approximate metric equivalents. The three lengths share a display scale and have different evidential bases.

  1. Reconstructed

    Parthenon

    185.3 m

    Penrose divided a corrected breadth by an inferred count of 100. This bar scales the resulting foot up to 600.

  2. Proposed standard

    Erechtheum

    194.4 m

    Penrose proposed a foot from architectural multiples. This bar multiplies that proposal by 600.

  3. Reported track length

    Olympia

    192.3 m

    Here the calculation runs in reverse. Penrose reports the track length, from which a foot can be inferred by assuming 600.