In ancient Egypt, this part of the human body was used as a standard of measurement. Six of these equaled a cubit.

Tapestry  was designed to be viewed vertically. understanding its design requires considering its artistic format. wall hangings were common forms of art beginning in the 10th   century. the artist thus used this artistic form of a wall hanging to create a continuous flow of visual narration; a historical account created with an artistic medium. styles unique to this work such as the use of white space to allow imaginative infinite space provide this particular historical narrative with added artistic value.