TABLES OF GREEK AND ROMAN MEASURES, WEIGHTS, AND MONEY.
Reading edition
Table Page
I. Greek Measures of Length.
(1) Smaller Measures 424
II. Roman Measures of Length.
(1) Smaller Measures 424
III. Greek Measures of Length.
(2) Land and Itinerary 425
IV. Roman Measures of Length.
(2) Land and Itinerary 426
V. Greek Measures of Surface 426
VI. Roman Measures of Surface 427
VII. Greek Measures of Capacity.
(1) Liquid Measures 428
VIII. Roman Measures of Capacity.
(1) Liquid Measures 429
IX. Greek Measures of Capacity.
(2) Dry Measures 430
X. Roman Measures of Capacity.
(2) Dry Measures 430
XI. Greek Weights 431
XII. Greek Money 432
XIII. Roman Weights.
(1) The As and its Uncial Divisions 433
XIV. Roman Weights.
(2) Subdivisions of the Uncia 433
XV. Roman Money.
(1) Before Augustus 434
XVI. Roman Money.
(2) After Augustus 434
TABLE I. GRECIAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.
I. Smaller Measures. Feet. Inches.
Δάκτυλος ” ·7584375
2 Κόνδυλος ” 1·516875
4 2 Παλαιστή, Δῶρον, Δοχμή, or Δακτυλοδοχμή ” 3·03375
8 4 2 Διχάς, or Ἡμιπόδιον ” 6·0675
10 5 2½ 1¼ Διχάς ” 7·584375
11 5½ 2¾ 1⅜ 11/10 Ὀρθοδῶρον ” 8·3428125
12 6 3 1½ 1⅕ 11/11 Σπιθαμή ” 9·10125
16 8 4 2 1⅗ 15/11 1⅓ ΠΟῩΣ 1 0·135
18 9 4½ 2¼ 1⅘ 17/11 1½ 1⅛ Πυγμή 1 1·651875
20 10 5 2½ 2 19/11 1⅔ 1¼ 11/9 Πυγών 1 3·16875
24 12 6 3 2⅖ 22/11 2 1½ 1⅓ 1⅕ ΠΗΧΥΣ 1 6·2025
72 36 18 9 7⅕ 66/11 6 4½ 4 3⅗ 3 Ξύλον 4 6·6075
96 48 24 12 9⅗ 88/11 8 6 5⅓ 4⅘ 4 1⅓ ὈΡΓΥΙΆ 6 0·81
N.B.—Approximate Values. From the above Table, it will be seen that the Greek Foot, Cubit, and Orguia, only exceed the English Foot, Foot and a half, and Fathom, by about 1-10th, 2-10ths, and 8-10ths of an inch respectively.
TABLE II. ROMAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.
I. Smaller Measures. Feet. Inches.
Digitus ” ·7281
1⅓ Uncia or Pollex ” ·9708
4 3 Palmus ” 2·9124
12 9 3 Palmus Major (of late times) ” 8·7372
16 12 4 1⅓ Pes ” 11·6496
20 15 5 1⅔ 1¼ Palmipes 1 2·562
24 18 6 2 1½ 1⅕ Cubitus 1 5·4744
N.B.—Approximate Values. The Roman Uncia, Pes, and Cubitus only fall short of our Inch, Foot, and Foot and a half, by less than 1-10th, 4-10ths, and 6-10ths of an inch respectively.
TABLE III. GRECIAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.
II. Larger Measures.—Land and Itinerary.[4] Miles. Feet. Inches.
ΠΟΥΣ ” 1 0·135
1½ ΠΗΧΥΣ ” 1 6·2025
2½ 1⅔ Βῦμα ” 2 6·3375
6 4 2⅖ ὈΡΓΥΙΆ ” 6 0·81
10 6⅔ 4 1⅔ Κάλαμος, Ἄκαινα, or Δεκάπους ” 10 1·35
60 40 24 10 6 Ἄμμα ” 60 8·1
100 66⅔ 40 16⅔ 10 1⅔ Πλέθρον ” 101 1·5
600 400 240 100 60 10 6 ΣΤΆΔΙΟΝ or ΣΤΆΔΙΟΣ ” 606 9
1200 800 480 200 120 20 12 2 Δίαυλος ” 1213 6
2400 1600 960 400 240 40 24 4 2 Ἱππικόν ” 2427 ”
4800 3200 1920 800 480 80 48 8 4 2 Roman Mile (μίλιον) ” 4854 ”
18,000 12,000 7200 3000 1800 300 180 30 15 7½ 3¾ Παρασάγγης 3 2362 6
36,000 24,000 14,400 6000 3600 600 360 60 30 15 7½ 2 Σχοῖνος 6 4735 ”
360,000 240,000 144,000 60,000 36,000 6000 3600 600 300 150 75 20 10 Degree 68[5] 5110 ”
TABLE IV. ROMAN MEASURES OF LENGTH.
II. Larger Measures.—Land and Itinerary. Miles. Feet. Inches.
Pes ” ” 11·6496
1½ Cubitus ” 1 5·4744
2½ 1⅔ Gradus, or Pes Sestertius ” 2 5·124
5 3⅓ 2 Passus ” 4 10·248
10 6⅔ 4 2 Decempeda, or Pertica ” 9 8·496
120 80 48 24 12 Actus (in length) ” 116 5·952
5000 3333⅓ 2000 1000 500 41⅔ Mille Passuum ” 4854 ”
7500 5000 3000 1500 750 62½ 1½ Gallic Leuga 1 2003 ”
375,000 250,000 150,000 75,000 37,500 3125 75 50 Degree[6] 68 5110 ”
N.B.—The Roman mile only differs from the English by less than 1-10th.
TABLE V. GRECIAN MEASURES OF SURFACE.
Ordinary Land Measures. Perches. Square Feet.
ΠΟΥΣ (Square Foot) ” 1·0226
36 Ἑξαπόδης ” 36·81456
100 27/9 Ἄκαινα (Square of the καλαμος) ” 102·26266
833⅓ 234/27 8⅓ Ἡμίεκτος 3 35·439
1666⅔ 468/27 16⅔ 2 Ἕκτος 6 70·877
2500 694/9 25 3 1½ Ἄρουρα 9 106·318
10,000 2777/9 100 12 6 4 ΠΛΈΘΡΟΝ 37 153·02[7]
TABLE VI. ROMAN MEASURES OF SURFACE.
Ordinary Land Measures. Acres. Roods. Perches. Square Feet.
Pes Quadratus ” ” ” ·9445
100 Scrupulum, or Decempeda Quadrata ” ” ” 94·245
480 4⅘ Actus Simplex ” ” 1 180·127
2400 24 5 Uncia[8] ” ” 8 83·885
3600 36 7½ 1½ Clima ” ” 12 125·83
14,400 144 30 6 4 Actus Quadratus ” 1 9 231·07
28,800 288 60 12 8 2 Jugerum ” 2 19 189·89[9]
57,600 576 120 24 16 4 2 Heredium 1 0 39 107·53[10]
5,760,000 57,600 12,000 2400 1600 400 200 100 Centuria 124 2 19 135·25
23,040,000 230,400 48,000 9600 6400 1600 800 400 4 Saltus 498 1 37 268·75[11]
TABLE VII. GRECIAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.
I. Attic Liquid Measures. Gallons. Pints. Approximate.[12]
Gallons. Pints.
Κοχλιάριον “ ·008 ” 1/120
2 Χήμη “ ·016 ” 1/60
2½ 1¼ Μύστρον “ ·02 ” 1/48
5 2½ 2 Κόγχη “ ·04 ” 1/24
10 5 4 2 ΚΎΑΘΟΣ “ ·08 ” 1/12
15 1½ 6 3 1½ Ὀξύβαφον “ ·12 ” ⅛
30 15 12 6 3 2 Τέταρτον “ ·24 ” ¼
60 30 24 12 6 4 2 Κοτύλη, Τρυβλίον or Ἡμίνα “ ·48 ” ½
120 60 48 24 12 8 4 2 ΞΈΣΤΗΣ (Sextarius) “ ·96 ” 1
720 360 288 144 72 48 24 12 6 ΧΟΥΣ “ 5·76 ” 6
5760 2880 2304 1152 576 384 192 96 48 8 Roman Amphora (κεράμιον) 5 6·08 6 ”
8640 4320 3456 1728 864 576 288 144 72 12 1½ ΑΜΦΟΡΕΥΣ ΜΕΤΡΗΤΗΣ 8 5·12 9 ”
N.B.—The Aeginetan measures of capacity may be easily calculated from these, according to the ratio given under Quadrantal.
TABLE VIII. ROMAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.
I. Liquid Measures. Gallons. Pints. Approximate.[13]
Gallons. Pints.
Ligula ” ·02 ” 1/48
4 Cyathus[14] ” ·08 ” 1/12
6 1½ Acetabulum ” ·12 ” ⅛
12 3 2 Quartarius, i.e. 1-4th of the Sextarius ” ·24 ” ¼
24 6 4 2 Hemina or Cotyla ” ·48 ” ½
48 12 8 4 2 Sextarius, i.e. 1-6th of the Congius ” ·96 ” 1
288 72 48 24 12 6 Congius ” 5·76 ” 6
1152 288 192 96 48 24 4 Urna 2 7·04 3 ”
2304 576 384 192 96 48 8 2 Amphora Quadrantal 5 6·08 6 ”
46,080 11,520 7680 3840 1920 960 160 40 20 Culeus 115 1·6 120 ”
TABLE IX. GRECIAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.
II. Attic Dry Measures. Gallons. Pints. Approximate.[15]
Gallons. Pints.
Κοχλιάριον ” ·008 ” 1/120
10 ΚΎΑΘΟΣ ” ·08 ” 1/12
15 1½ Ὀξύβαφον ” ·12 ” ⅛
60 6 4 ΚΟΤΎΛΗ or Ἡμίνα ” ·48 ” ½
120 12 8 2 ΞΈΣΤΗΣ (Sextarius) ” ·96 ” 1
240 24 16 4 2 ΧΟΙΝΙΞ ” 1·92 ” 2[16]
960 96 64 16 8 4 Ἡμίεκτον ” 7·68 1 ”
1920 192 128 32 16 8 2 Ἕκτος (equal to the Roman Modius.) 1 7·36 2 ”
11,520 1152 768 192 96 48 12 6 ΜΈΔΙΜΝΟΣ 11 4·16 12[17] ”
N.B.—Respecting the Aeginetan Measures, see the Note to Table VII.
TABLE X. ROMAN MEASURES OF CAPACITY.
II. Dry Measures. Gallons. Pints. Approximate.[18]
Gallons. Pints.
Ligula ” ·02 ” 1/48
4 Cyathus[19] ” ·08 ” 1/12
6 1½ Acetabulum ” ·12 ” ⅛
12 3 2 Quartarius, i.e. 1-4th of the Sextarius ” ·24 ” ¼
24 6 4 2 Hemina, or Cotyla ” ·48 ” ½
48 12 8 4 2 Sextarius, i.e. 1-6th of the Congius ” ·96 ” 1
384 96 64 32 16 8 Semimodius ” 7·68 1 ”
768 192 128 64 32 16 2 Modius 1 7·36 2[20] ”
TABLE XI. GRECIAN WEIGHTS.
1. Ratios of the three chief Systems.
Aeginetan : Euboic or old Attic :: 6 : 5
Aeginetan : Solonian or later Attic :: 5 : 3
Euboic : Solonian :: 1388/9 : 100
or :: 100 : 72
or :: 25 : 18
The Aeginetan Talent = 6000 Aeginetan Drachmae = 7200 Euboic = 10,000 Solonian
Euboic ” = 5000 ” = 6000 ” = 8,333⅓ ”
Solonian[21] ” = 3600 ” = 4320 ” = 6,000 ”
2. Aeginetan Weights. Exact.[22] Approximate.
lb. oz. grs. lb. oz. grs.
Obol (Ὀβολος) ” ” 18·4722/9 ” ” 20
6 Drachma (Δραχμή) ” ” 110·83⅛ ” ¼ ”
600 100 Mina (Μνᾶ) 1 9 145·83⅓[23] 1⅔ ” ”
36,000 6000 60 Talent (Τάλαντον) 95 ” ” 100 ” ”
3. Euboic or Attic Commercial Weights. Exact. Approximate.
lb. oz. grs. lb. oz. grs.
Obol ” ” 15·39814/27 ” ” 15½
6 Drachma ” ” 92·36111/9 ” ” 93⅓
600 100 Mina 1 5 48·6111/9 1 ” ”
36,000 6000 60 Talent 79 2 291·63⅓ 80 ” ”
4. Attic Commercial Weights increased. Exact. Approximate.
lb. oz. grs. lb. oz. grs.
1 Mina = 150 Drachmae (silver) 1 6 350 1½ ” ”
5 Minae = 6 Minae (commercial) 7 14 291·6⅔ 7½ ” ”
1 Talent = 65 Minae (commercial) 88 ” 145·8⅓ 90 ” ”
5. Attic Silver Weights. Exact. Approximate.
lb. oz. grs. lb. oz. grs.
Obol ” ” 11·0833⅓ ” ” 12
6 Drachma ” ” 66·5 ” ” 70
600 100 Mina ” 15 87·5[24] 1 ” ”
36,000 6000 60 Talent 57 ” ” 60 ” ”
TABLE XII. GRECIAN MONEY.
I. Attic Copper and Silver. £. s. d. Farth- ings.
Lepton (Λεπτόν) ” ” ” ·116
7 Chalchus (Χαλκοῦς) ” ” ” ·8125
14 2 Dichalcon, or Quarter Obol (Δίχαλκον) ” ” ” 1·625
28 4 2 Half Obol (Ἡμιοβόλιον) ” ” ” 3·25
56 8 4 2 Obol (Ὀβολός) ” ” 1 2·5
112 16 8 4 2 Diobolus (Διόβολον) ” ” 3 1
168 24 12 6 3 1½ Triobolus (Τριόβολον) ” ” 4 3·5
224 32 16 8 4 2 1⅓ Tetrobolus (Τετρόβολον) ” ” 6 2
336 48 24 12 6 3 2 1½ Drachma[25] (Δραχμή) ” ” 9 3
672 96 48 24 12 6 4 3 2 Didrachm (Δίδραχμον) ” 1 7 2
1344 192 96 48 24 12 8 6 4 2 Tetradrachm (Τετράδραχμον) ” 3 3 ”
33,600 4800 2400 1200 600 300 200 150 100 50 25 Mina (Μνᾶ) 4 1 3 ”
2,016,000 288,000 144,000 72,000 36,000 18,000 12,000 9000 6000 3000 1500 60 Talent (Τάλαντον) 243 15 [26] ” ”
II. Aeginetan and Euboic Silver.—The coins of these systems can be easily calculated from the Attic, according to the ratios given in Table XI., No. 1. As thus calculated, the Aeginetan Talent was equal to 406l. 5s., and the Euboic was equal to 338l. 10s. 10d., and the Drachmae were equal respectively to 1s. 4¼d. for the Aeginetan, and 1s. 1½d. + ⅕ of a farthing for the Euboic.
III. Grecian Gold.—The values of the Grecian gold money cannot be conveniently reduced to the tabular form; they will be found in the articles Stater and Dareicus.
TABLE XIII. ROMAN WEIGHTS.
I. The Uncial Divisions of the Pound. Avoirdupois Weight.
Oz. Grs.
Uncia ” 430·83⅓ [27]
1½ Sescuncia, or Sescunx 1 203·75
2 1⅓ Sextans 1 404·16⅔
3 2 1½ Quadrans, or Teruncius 2 168·750
4 2⅓ 2 1⅓ Triens 3 270·83⅓
5 3⅓ 2½ 1⅔ 1¼ Quincunx 4 354·16⅔
6 4 3 2 1½ 1⅕ Semis, or Semissi 5 337·5
7 4⅓ 3½ 2⅓ 1¾ 1⅖ 1⅙ Septunx 6 320·33⅓
8 5⅓ 4 2⅔ 2 1⅗ 1⅓ 11/7 Bes, or Bessis 7 104·16⅔
9 6 4½ 3 2¼ 1⅘ 1½ 12/7 1⅛ Dodrans 8 277·5
10 6⅓ 5 3⅓ 2½ 2 1⅔ 13/7 1¼ 11/9 Dextrans 9 270·83⅓
11 7⅓ 5½ 3⅔ 2¾ 2⅕ 1⅚ 14/7 1⅜ 12/9 11/10 Deunx 10 260·83⅓
12 8 6 4 3 2⅖ 2 15/7 1½ 1⅓ 1⅕ 11/11 As, or Libra 11 237·5
TABLE XIV. ROMAN WEIGHTS.
II. Subdivisions of the Uncia. Grains.
Siliqua 2·9224
3 Obolus 8·767361
6 2 Scrupulum 17·53472
12 4 2 Semisextula 35·0694
24 8 4 2 Sextula 70·138
36 12 6 3 1½ Sicilicus 105·2083
48 16 8 4 2 1⅓ Duella 140·277
72 24 12 6 3 2 1½ Semuncia 120·416
144 48 24 12 6 4 3 2 Uncia 420·833
1728 576 288 144 72 48 36 24 12 As, or Libra 5050
TABLE XV. ROMAN MONEY.
I. Before the Reign of Augustus: when the Denarius was 1-7th of an Ounce, or about 60 Grains.
1. Copper Coins. 2. Silver Coins. £. s. d. Farth- ings.
Sextula ” ” ” ·35416
1½ Quadrans Teruncius ” ” ” ·53125
2 1⅓ Triens ” ” ” ·7083
3 2 1½ Semissis 2 Sembella ” ” ” 1·0625
6 4 3 2 As 4 2 Libella ” ” ” 2·125
12 8 6 4 2 Dupondius ” ” 1 ·25
24 16 12 8 4 2 Sestertius 16 8 4 Sestertius ” ” 2 ·5
48 32 24 16 8 4 2 32 16 8 2 Quinarius ” ” 4 1
96 64 48 32 16 8 4 24 32 16 4 2 Denarius ” ” 8 2
3. Gold Coins. Aureus[28] (value in proportion to Roman Silver) ” 17 8 2
(value in English current Coin) 1 1 1 2
4. Money of Account (not a Coin). Sestertium, or Mille Nummi 8 17 1 ”
TABLE XVI. ROMAN MONEY.
II. After the Reign of Augustus: when the Denarius was 1-8th of an Ounce, or 52·5 Grains. £. s. d. Farth- ings.
Sextula ” ” ” ·3125
1½ Quadrans ” ” ” ·46875
2 1⅓ Triens ” ” ” ·625
3 2 1½ Semissis ” ” ” ·9375
6 4 3 2 As ” ” ” 1·875
12 8 6 4 2 Dupondius ” ” ” 3·75
24 16 12 8 4 2 Sestertius ” ” 1 3·5
48 32 24 16 8 4 2 Quinarius, or Victoriatus ” ” 3 3
96 64 48 32 16 8 4 2 Denarius ” ” 7 2
Aureus, reckoned at 25 Denarii ” 15 7 2
” reckoned in English Current Coin ” 18 5 3·25
Sestertium, or Mille Nummi 7 16 3 ”