As measurements play a certain art in this article it is as well, before dealing with the pyramid of Khufu, to consider the ancient Egyptian measures.

Different values of the cubit or ell (referred to as E), are found in different sites, and in different structures of the same site and period ; but it seems quite certain that the Pyramid Age ell had a value between 20.58 and 20.6 in. In later times the variation is much wider. Opinions differ on the division of the ell, since there was also a ‘ short ell ’ of 6 palms or hands (referred to as H), whereas the normal ell was divided into 7 hands.