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I remember a theory (and I’ve no idea if it’s archaeologically verified) that the level for the pyramids was formed by building a wall around the general area.
by robin_reala 7y ago
I remember a theory (and I’ve no idea if it’s archaeologically verified) that the level for the pyramids was formed by building a wall around the general area. You then flood this with water and wait for it to evaporate / leak out. As the water recedes, every time a piece of land emerges get a squad of slaves to dig it down and level it out. Eventually you end up with a flat plain.
- WalterBright 7y agoPeople also made TV shows proving that the Egyptians had discovered pi because pi was in the ratio between the base and the height, or more likely space aliens built it because pi was improbable for the Egyptians. Then some wit torpedoed it by pointing out that if you used a measuring wheel of 1 cubit in diameter, and measured out the base using so many rotations of the wheel, and measured out the height in cubits, pi is in the ratio without needing to discover it. No, I don't know what a cubit is. Don't ask.
- taejo 7y agoA cubit is the distance from a (standardized) man's elbow to his middle fingertip, from Latin "cubitum" = "elbow". Perhaps a more convenient reference than the foot when measuring things that aren't on the ground.
- WalterBright 7y agoI suppose my little joke is outdated :-)
- coolgeek 7y agoI used to know what a cubit was
- taejo 7y agoOr maybe I just haven't seen that particular sketch (I am younger than you, but I'm also not American). Since you chose not to explain your reference, for bystanders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bputeFGXEjA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bputeFGXEjA