CHAPTER II 

 Anthropometry 



Real anthropometry is such a young science 

 that it has not yet been decided as to the best 

 method for tabulating the measurements of chil- 

 dren. Its early beginnings were connected with 

 the development of art, and ancient artists 

 seemed more likely to consider what they thought 

 to be " ideal" proportions of the human body 

 than the actual proportions. This accounts 

 for the grotesque physiques shown in much 

 ancient sculpture developed before the Grecian 

 period. 



The greatest advance was caused indirectly by 

 the Olympic Games. It was customary to have 

 statues made of the winners, so that the propor- 

 tions of the best athletes of Greece became a mat- 

 ter of close study. The existent statues of this 

 period are certainly fine examples of natural 

 types of men and women. 



Early artists endeavored to find \ some part of 

 the body which might be used as a unit of meas- 

 ure. The Egyptians used the length of the mid- 

 dle finger, deciding how many such lengths should 

 be the proportion of any part of the body. 



(41) 



