Book 9 — HERODOTEAN WEIGHTS AND MONEY, DRY AND LIQUID MEASURES, AND MEASUREMENTS OF LENGTH.

Eubœic or Attic Silver Weights and Money.

WEIGHT (Avoirdupois). VALUE

lbs. oz. grs.

1 Obol — — 11.08 $.033

6 Obols 1 Drachma — — 66.5 .198

100 Drachmæ 1 Mina — 15 33.75 19.784

60 Minæ 1 Talent 56 15¼ 100.32 1187.00

Æginetan Silver Weights and Money.

lbs. oz. grs.

1 Obol — — 16 $.04½

6 Obols 1 Drachma — — 96 27.00

100 Drachmæ 1 Mina 1 5¾ 78.96 —

60 Minæ 1 Talent 82 3¾ 30.46 1620.00

The gold Stater of Crœsus and the gold Daric are each supposed to be worth about 20 Attic silver drachmæ, or about $4.00 in our money.

Herodotus makes the Babylonian Talent equal to 70 Eubœic Minæ, but Hussey calculates its weight at 71lbs. 1½oz. 69.45grs. If, however, these are reckoned by comparison with our gold money, they are worth much more.

Attic Dry Measures.

Gallons. Quarts.

1 Chœnix — 1

48 Chœnices 1 Medimnus 12 —

1 Medimnus and 3 Chœnices 1 Persian Artaba 12 3

Liquid Measures.

Gallons. Pints.

1 Chœnix — 1½

48 Chœnices 1 Amphora 9 —

Hesychius considers the Aryster to be the same as the Cotyla, which Hussey calculates to hold half a pint.

Measures of Length.

Miles. Yards. Feet. Inches.

1 Digit (finger's breadth) — — — .7584

4 Digits 1 Palm (hand-breadth) — — — 3.0336

3 Palms 1 Span — — — 9.1008

4 Palms 1 Foot — — 1 0.135

2 Spans or 6 Palms 1 Cubit — — 1 6.2016

1 Cubit and 6 Digits 1 Royal Cubit — — 1 8.4768

4 Cubits 1 Fathom (Orgya) — — 6 0.81

100 Feet or 16⅔ Orgyæ 1 Plethrum — 33 2 1.5

6 Plethra 1 Stadium — 202 0 9

30 Stadia 1 Persian Parasang 3 787 1 6

2 Parasangs 1 Schœnus 6½ 494 3 0

The Egyptian Cubit contained nearly 17¾ inches.

The Arura contained 21,904 square English feet, or a fraction over half an acre.

UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME.