Alexander Henry Rhind
Encyclopedia
Alexander Henry Rhind was a Scottish
lawyer
and Egyptologist.
Born in Wick
on 26 July 1833 in the Highlands, Rhind studied at the University of Edinburgh
. Suffering from pulmonary disease, he traveled to Egypt (as was the custom amongst wealthy Europeans at the time) where he became fascinated by the ancient culture and antiquities of that country.
He collected material for his book entitled "Thebes, its Tombs and their Tenants", which was published in 1862. A prolific writer with a methodical research style, all through his years in Egypt he continued to battle ill health.
Among the items that he collected was the Rhind Papyrus, also known as the Ahmes
Papyrus after its Egyptian scribe. Rhind acquired it in 1858 and transferred it to the British Museum
in 1863, and the similar Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll
. Both are mathematical treatises and both were purchased in the Luxor
market, and may have previously been stolen from the Ramesseum
. When chemically softened and decoded years afterward, they show the Egyptians had computed the value of π
as 3.1605, a margin of error of less than one percent.
He has been described as a "young hero", the only "bright shining light of archaeological method and conscience" in the mid-nineteenth century, who plotted the exact location of artefacts and their relationships, the first to do so.
Rhind died in his sleep at the age of 30. Along with his 1600-volume library he left a bequest to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
to fund a lectureship, and the prestigious Rhind Lectures
currently hosted by the Society commemorates his name.
Rhind directed that a sum from his estate at Sibster, Caithness
, be used for this purpose, once the interests of living parties was extinguished; this eventuated in 1874, 11 years after his death.
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Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and Egyptologist.
Born in Wick
Wick, Highland
Wick is an estuary town and a royal burgh in the north of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically, it is one of two burghs within the county of Caithness, of which Wick was the county town. The town straddles the River Wick and extends along both sides of Wick Bay...
on 26 July 1833 in the Highlands, Rhind studied at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. Suffering from pulmonary disease, he traveled to Egypt (as was the custom amongst wealthy Europeans at the time) where he became fascinated by the ancient culture and antiquities of that country.
He collected material for his book entitled "Thebes, its Tombs and their Tenants", which was published in 1862. A prolific writer with a methodical research style, all through his years in Egypt he continued to battle ill health.
Among the items that he collected was the Rhind Papyrus, also known as the Ahmes
Ahmes
Ahmes was an ancient Egyptian scribe who lived during the Second Intermediate Period and the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty . He wrote the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus, a work of Ancient Egyptian mathematics that dates to approximately 1650 BC; he is the earliest contributor to mathematics...
Papyrus after its Egyptian scribe. Rhind acquired it in 1858 and transferred it to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
in 1863, and the similar Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll
Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll
The Egyptian Mathematical Leather Roll was a 10 × 17 in leather roll purchased by Alexander Henry Rhind in 1858...
. Both are mathematical treatises and both were purchased in the Luxor
Luxor
Luxor is a city in Upper Egypt and the capital of Luxor Governorate. The population numbers 487,896 , with an area of approximately . As the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, Luxor has frequently been characterized as the "world's greatest open air museum", as the ruins of the temple...
market, and may have previously been stolen from the Ramesseum
Ramesseum
The Ramesseum is the memorial temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II . It is located in the Theban necropolis in Upper Egypt, across the River Nile from the modern city of Luxor...
. When chemically softened and decoded years afterward, they show the Egyptians had computed the value of π
Pi
' is a mathematical constant that is the ratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter. is approximately equal to 3.14. Many formulae in mathematics, science, and engineering involve , which makes it one of the most important mathematical constants...
as 3.1605, a margin of error of less than one percent.
He has been described as a "young hero", the only "bright shining light of archaeological method and conscience" in the mid-nineteenth century, who plotted the exact location of artefacts and their relationships, the first to do so.
Rhind died in his sleep at the age of 30. Along with his 1600-volume library he left a bequest to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh...
to fund a lectureship, and the prestigious Rhind Lectures
Rhind Lectures
Rhind Lectures are a series of lectures on topics of archaeology, delivered over the course of a weekend by a chosen expert. They have been hosted by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland since 1874...
currently hosted by the Society commemorates his name.
Rhind directed that a sum from his estate at Sibster, Caithness
Caithness
Caithness is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic local government area of Scotland. The name was used also for the earldom of Caithness and the Caithness constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . Boundaries are not identical in all contexts, but the Caithness area is...
, be used for this purpose, once the interests of living parties was extinguished; this eventuated in 1874, 11 years after his death.
Publications
- British Archæology, its progress and demands
- Facsimiles of two papyri found in a tomb at Thebes with a translation by Samuel Birch and an account of their discovery
- Law of treasure-trove : how can it be best adapted to accomplish useful results?
- Thebes : its tombs and their tenants, ancient and present