Alexander Henry Rhind

Alexander Henry Rhind

:"for others with the same name see Rhind"

Alexander Henry Rhind (1833 – 1863) was a Scottish lawyer and Egyptologist. Born in Wick 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.

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 lecturer, and the prestigious Rhind lectures currently hosted by the Society still bear his name.

Publications

*"British archeology, 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"

References

* Memoir of the Late Alexander Henry Rhind, of Sibster, by John Stuart, entire text online through Google Books


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  • Alexander Henry Rhind — (Wick, Escocia 1833 Cadenabbia, Italia 1863) fue un abogado, historiador, geólogo y arqueólogo, especializado en egiptología y descubridor del llamado Papiro de Ahmes. Fue el primer egiptólogo que desarrolló un método científico para realizar sus …   Wikipedia Español

  • Alexander Henry Rhind — Alexander Henry Rhind …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Alexander Henry Rhind — Égyptologue Pays de naissance …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Henry Rhind — Alexander Henry Rhind Alexander Henry Rhind (1833 1863) est né à Wick en Écosse. Au cours de deux séjours qu il fit en Égypte pour des raisons de santé en 1855 et en 1857, il entreprend des fouilles à Thèbes et constitue une collection d… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Rhind Mathematical Papyrus — British Museum, London A portion of the Rhind Papyrus Date …   Wikipedia

  • Rhind — may refer to:* Alexander Rhind (1821 ndash;1897) American Naval officer and namesake of the destroyer USS Rhind (DD 404) * Alexander Henry Rhind (1833 ndash;1863), Scottish lawyer and namesake of the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus * David Rhind (1808 …   Wikipedia

  • Rhind-Papyrus — Ausschnitt aus dem ägyptischen Rhind Papyrus Der Papyrus Rhind ist ein altägyptischer Papyrus zu mathematischen Themen, die wir heute als Algebra, Geometrie, Trigonometrie und Bruchrechnung bezeichnen. Er ist eine der wichtigsten Quellen für… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Rhind papyrus — ▪ ancient Egyptian scroll       ancient Egyptian scroll bearing mathematical tables and problems. This extensive document from ancient Egypt has been the source of much information about Egyptian mathematics. The papyrus was bought in 1858 in a… …   Universalium

  • RHIND, Alexander Henry — (1833–1863)    The Scottish antiquarian, fellow, and benefactor of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, in whose name their principal lecture series is named, was also a scholar of Mediterranean and Egyptian remains, including a study of the… …   Historical Dictionary of the Etruscans

  • Papyrus Rhind — Fragment des Papyrus Rhind, pBM 10057 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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