An ancient Egyptian unit of weight or measure, used for grain and other commodities, equal to roughly 91 pounds.
From ancient Egyptian origins, the word passed through Greek and Latin before entering English. It was a standard measurement in trade and taxation in ancient Egypt and the Mediterranean world.
The debe shows us that ancient Egypt had incredibly sophisticated trade systems—they needed standardized measurements the same way modern commerce needs pounds and kilograms, and their systems were so practical they lasted for thousands of years!
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