DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8#0042
( 41 )
ing his* new invented instruments to bear, with any
tolerable exactness; when even in the present highly
improved state of sectors and quadrants, in experiments
lately made, there was found a difference between two
accomplished mathematicians, of above 64 feet English,
both measuring in the same latitude, one single meri-
dional degree.
And after all, my present engagement is, not to
rectify the deficiency in the calculation made by Hip-
parchus, but to prove the stadia, by which his recorded
577 000 are notified, were of 625 pyramidic feet each :
and this, I presume, will be allowed to be sufficiently
proved, since an error of S 000 000 is not so incorrect
as an error of 41.
I next proceed to state the reasons which prove
that Vitruvius also calculated by the pyramidic foot,
where he alludes to established measure, for most of his
quantities are symmetrical or commensurate. In Chap.
3rd, book 3rd, he recommends steps up to temples not
to have more than 10 Inches (dextans) risers, nor more
than 2 feet treads, (bipedales,) that the ascent may not
be difficult ; as matrons, he elsewhere tells us, were
accustomed to ascend arm in arm. And if these dimen-
sions had been by the Cossutian foot, we may easily
imagine these Roman ladies, had they heared Vitruvius
call the ascent easy and pleasant, would impatiently
have pronounced him ridiculouslysingular in his opinion.
Now the dextans of the pyramidic foot is=ft.7i very
nearly in English, and the two feet for the tread=ft.l
in.5|: whereas by Cossutian feet the dextans = fl| nearly,
and the bipedales = ft.1 in.11^• ; here let the reader
decide
♦Hîpparchus is said to be the first that invented mathematical
instruments.
ing his* new invented instruments to bear, with any
tolerable exactness; when even in the present highly
improved state of sectors and quadrants, in experiments
lately made, there was found a difference between two
accomplished mathematicians, of above 64 feet English,
both measuring in the same latitude, one single meri-
dional degree.
And after all, my present engagement is, not to
rectify the deficiency in the calculation made by Hip-
parchus, but to prove the stadia, by which his recorded
577 000 are notified, were of 625 pyramidic feet each :
and this, I presume, will be allowed to be sufficiently
proved, since an error of S 000 000 is not so incorrect
as an error of 41.
I next proceed to state the reasons which prove
that Vitruvius also calculated by the pyramidic foot,
where he alludes to established measure, for most of his
quantities are symmetrical or commensurate. In Chap.
3rd, book 3rd, he recommends steps up to temples not
to have more than 10 Inches (dextans) risers, nor more
than 2 feet treads, (bipedales,) that the ascent may not
be difficult ; as matrons, he elsewhere tells us, were
accustomed to ascend arm in arm. And if these dimen-
sions had been by the Cossutian foot, we may easily
imagine these Roman ladies, had they heared Vitruvius
call the ascent easy and pleasant, would impatiently
have pronounced him ridiculouslysingular in his opinion.
Now the dextans of the pyramidic foot is=ft.7i very
nearly in English, and the two feet for the tread=ft.l
in.5|: whereas by Cossutian feet the dextans = fl| nearly,
and the bipedales = ft.1 in.11^• ; here let the reader
decide
♦Hîpparchus is said to be the first that invented mathematical
instruments.