The Arshin (Zira) as a Historical Unit of Length in the Islamic World: A Comparative Study

English (OpenAlex)

Historical systems of measurement are essential for the accurate documentation, inter-pretation, and conservation of architectural heritage. In the Islamic world, the arshin (zira) was one of the principal units of length, yet its metric value varied considerably across regions, periods, and practical contexts. This study examines the arshin through a comparative historical framework based on major scholarship on Islamic and Ottoman metrology, together with relevant documentary and material evidence. The analysis focuses on the principal forms of the arshin, their reported metric equivalents, and their internal subdivisions. The results show that the arshin did not function as a single fixed unit, but rather as a family of related measures shaped by chronology, geography, and use. This variability is reflected not only in total length, but also in the organization of subunits such as fingers, knuckles, handbreadths, lines, and points. The study concludes that the arshin should be interpreted as a context-dependent metrological structure and that such an approach provides a more reliable basis for the documentation and interpretation of architectural heritage in the Islamic world.