# Who first came up with the 24-hour day? The Sumerians or the Egyptians?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-first-came-up-with-the-24-hour-day-the-sumerians-or-the-egyptians/624224
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 6, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-first-came-up-with-the-24-hour-day-the-sumerians-or-the-egyptians/624224 "2012-06-06T01:06:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@davidmich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidmich)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-first-came-up-with-the-24-hour-day-the-sumerians-or-the-egyptians/624224/1 "2012-06-06T01:06:34Z")
Hi,
I’ve read a few textbooks claiming that the Egyptians came up with the 24-hour day. While browsing online though, so many web sites claim that the Sumerians first came up with the idea and passed it on to the Babylonians. Which claim is correct, and what proof is there for either claim?
davidmich
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### Author:  [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-first-came-up-with-the-24-hour-day-the-sumerians-or-the-egyptians/624224/2 "2012-06-06T01:09:33Z")
Reported for forum change.
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-first-came-up-with-the-24-hour-day-the-sumerians-or-the-egyptians/624224/3 "2012-06-06T01:09:48Z")
Moved to General Questions from ATMB.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
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### Author:  [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-first-came-up-with-the-24-hour-day-the-sumerians-or-the-egyptians/624224/4 "2012-06-06T01:38:46Z")
Closed duplicate.