Deben (unit)

The Deben is an ancient Egyptian measure of weight that occurs from the Old Kingdom.

Changes in value

Throughout history, the concrete value changed significantly. In the Old Kingdom stone weights are known, weighing 13.6 g. The same weigh the weights of Sesostris I from Lisht from the Middle Kingdom. Under Sesostris III. and Amenemhat III. ( also Middle Kingdom ) but is also known Deben - weights that are heavier and relate specifically to the metals gold and copper. Therefore they are called copper - and gold - Deben Deben, with those twice as hard for copper were like gold, about 23.7 g in Papyrus Boulaq 18 ( 13th Dynasty ), a distinction between a large and a small Deben. In the New Kingdom is a unitary deben - weight that weighs 91 g and is divided into 10 qedet.