As already noted, the most important answer to this issue is that the passages are not giving measurements with the precision of a modern geometry textbook. Additionally, there are several considerations that would limit precision. Construction of a perfect circle would not have been feasible. Measurement of it would not have been easy, either, especially if no one bothered to use a piece of string. At that time, advanced mathematics requiring a more precise value of pi were mainly used for astrology.
I have seen the suggestion that, as the basin at one point is described as being like a lily, that it was actually hexagonal and exacty 10 across, 30 around. Lilies do have 6 petals, but they are not perfectly hexagonal.
Dr. David Campbell
"Old Seashells"
Biology Department
Saint Mary's College of Maryland
18952 E. Fisher Road
St. Mary's City, MD 20686-3001 USA
dcampbell@osprey.smcm.edu, 301 862-0372 Fax: 301 862-0996
"Mollusks murmured 'Morning!'. And salmon chanted 'Evening!'."-Frank Muir, Oh My Word!
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