Ancient Greek units of measurement
Ancient Greek units of measurement varied according to location and epoch. Systems of ancient weights and measures evolved as needs changed; Solon and other lawgivers also reformed them en bloc.[citation needed] Some units of measurement were found to be convenient for trade within the Mediterranean region and these units became increasingly common to different city states. The calibration and use of measuring devices became more sophisticated. By about 500 BC, Athens had a central depository of official weights and measures, the Tholos, where merchants were required to test their measuring devices against official standards.[citation needed]
Length
[edit]Some Greek measures of length were named after parts of the body, such as the δάκτυλος (daktylos, plural: δάκτυλοι daktyloi) or finger (having the size of a thumb), and the πούς (pous, plural: πόδες podes) or foot (having the size of a shoe). The values of the units varied according to location and epoch (e.g., in Aegina a pous was approximately 333 mm (13.1 in), whereas in Athens (Attica) it was about 296 mm (11.7 in)),[1] but the relative proportions were generally the same.
| Unit | Greek name | Equal to | Modern equivalent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| daktylos | δάκτυλος | 19.3 mm (0.76 in) | finger | |
| kondylos | κόνδυλος | 2 daktyloi | 38.5 mm (1.52 in) | knuckle |
| palaistē or dōron | παλαιστή, δῶρον | 4 daktyloi | 77.1 mm (3.04 in) | palm |
| dichas or hēmipodion | διχάς, ἡμιπόδιον | 8 daktyloi | 154.1 mm (6.07 in) | half foot |
| lichas | λιχάς | 10 daktyloi | 192.6 mm (7.58 in) | distance from thumb-tip to tip of outstretched index finger[2] |
| orthodōron | ὀρθόδωρον | 11 daktyloi | 211.9 mm (8.34 in) | straight hand's width |
| spithamē | σπιθαμή | 12 daktyloi | 231.2 mm (9.10 in) | span of all fingers |
| pous | πούς | 16 daktyloi | 308.2 mm (12.13 in) | foot |
| pygmē | πυγμή | 18 daktyloi | 346.8 mm (13.65 in) | forearm |
| pygōn | πυγών | 20 daktyloi | 385.3 mm (15.17 in) | distance from elbow to fist |
| pēchys | πῆχυς | 24 daktyloi | 462.3 mm (18.20 in) | cubit |
| Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).[3] Metric equivalents are approximate. | ||||
| daktylos | kondylos | doron | dichas | lichas | orthodoron | spithame | pous | pygme | pygon | pechus | royal pechus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| daktylos | 1 | 1⁄2 | 1⁄4 | 1⁄8 | 1⁄10 | 1⁄11 | 1⁄12 | 1⁄16 | 1⁄18 | 1⁄20 | 1⁄24 | 1⁄27 |
| kondylos | 2 | 1 | 1⁄2 | 1⁄4 | 1⁄5 | 2⁄11 | 1⁄6 | 1⁄8 | 1⁄9 | 1⁄10 | 1⁄12 | 2⁄27 |
| doron | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1⁄2 | 2⁄5 | 4⁄11 | 1⁄3 | 1⁄4 | 2⁄9 | 1⁄5 | 1⁄6 | 4⁄27 |
| dichas | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4⁄5 | 8⁄11 | 2⁄3 | 1⁄2 | 4⁄9 | 2⁄5 | 1⁄3 | 8⁄27 |
| lichas | 10 | 5 | 2+1⁄2 | 1+1⁄4 | 1 | 10⁄11 | 5⁄6 | 5⁄8 | 5⁄9 | 1⁄2 | 5⁄12 | 10⁄27 |
| orthodoron | 11 | 5+1⁄2 | 2+3⁄4 | 1+3⁄8 | 1+1⁄10 | 1 | 11⁄12 | 11⁄16 | 11⁄18 | 11⁄20 | 11⁄24 | 11⁄27 |
| spithame | 12 | 6 | 3 | 1+1⁄2 | 1+1⁄5 | 1+1⁄11 | 1 | 3⁄4 | 2⁄3 | 3⁄5 | 1⁄2 | 4⁄9 |
| pous | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1+3⁄5 | 1+5⁄11 | 1+1⁄3 | 1 | 8⁄9 | 4⁄5 | 2⁄3 | 16⁄27 |
| pygme | 18 | 9 | 4+1⁄2 | 2+1⁄4 | 1+4⁄5 | 1+7⁄11 | 1+1⁄2 | 1+1⁄8 | 1 | 9⁄10 | 3⁄4 | 2⁄3 |
| pygon | 20 | 10 | 5 | 2+1⁄2 | 2 | 1+9⁄11 | 1+2⁄3 | 1+1⁄4 | 1+1⁄9 | 1 | 5⁄6 | 20⁄27 |
| pechus | 24 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 2+2⁄5 | 2+2⁄11 | 2 | 1+1⁄2 | 1+1⁄3 | 1+1⁄5 | 1 | 8⁄9 |
| royal pechus | 27 | 13+1⁄2 | 6+3⁄4 | 3+3⁄8 | 2+7⁄10 | 2+5⁄11 | 2+1⁄4 | 1+11⁄16 | 1+1⁄2 | 1+7⁄20 | 1+1⁄8 | 1 |
| meters | 0.01926 | 0.03853 | 0.07706 | 0.15411 | 0.19264 | 0.21191 | 0.23117 | 0.30823 | 0.34676 | 0.38529 | 0.46234 | 0.52014 |
| Unit | Greek name | Equal to | Modern equivalent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pous | πούς | 0.308 m (1.01 ft) | foot | |
| haploun bēma[4] | ἁπλοῦν βῆμα | 2+1⁄2 podes | 0.77 m (2.5 ft) | step |
| bēma,[3] diploun bēma[4] | βῆμα, διπλοῦν βῆμα | 5 podes | 1.54 m (5.1 ft) | pace |
| orgyia | ὄργυια | 6 podes | 1.85 m (6.1 ft) | fathom |
| kalamos, akaina or dekapous | κάλαμος, ἄκαινα, δεκάπους | 10 podes | 3.08 m (10.1 ft) | 10 feet |
| hamma | ἅμμα | 60 podes | 18.5 m (20.2 yd) | knot, link of a chain |
| plethron | πλέθρον | 100 podes | 30.8 m (33.7 yd) | 100 feet |
| stadion | στάδιον | 600 podes | 184.9 m (202.2 yd) | an eighth of a Roman mile |
| diaulos | δίαυλος | 2 stadia | 369.9 m (404.5 yd) | double pipe |
| hippikon | ἱππικόν | 4 stadia | 739.7 m (808.9 yd) | length of a hippodrome[5] |
| milion | μίλιον | 8 stadia | 1.479 km (1,617 yd) | Roman mile |
| dolichos[4] | δόλιχος | 12 stadia | 2.219 km (1.379 mi) | long race |
| parasanges, or league[6] | παρασάγγης | 30 stadia | 5.548 km (3.447 mi) | adopted from Persia[4] |
| schoinos | σχοινός | 40 stadia | 7.397 km (4.596 mi) | adopted from Egypt[4] |
| stage[6] | 160 stadia | 29.8 km (18.5 mi) | ||
| Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).[3] Metric equivalents are approximate. | ||||
| pous | bema haplun | bema diplun | orguia | akaina | hamma | plethron | stadion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pous | 1 | 2⁄5 | 1⁄5 | 1⁄6 | 1⁄10 | 1⁄60 | 1⁄100 | 1⁄600 |
| bema haplun | 2+1⁄2 | 1 | 1⁄2 | 5⁄12 | 1⁄4 | 1⁄24 | 1⁄40 | 1⁄240 |
| bema diplun | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5⁄6 | 1⁄2 | 1⁄12 | 1⁄20 | 1⁄120 |
| orguia | 6 | 2+2⁄5 | 1+1⁄5 | 1 | 3⁄5 | 1⁄10 | 3⁄50 | 1⁄100 |
| akaina | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1+2⁄3 | 1 | 1⁄6 | 1⁄10 | 1⁄60 |
| hamma | 60 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3⁄5 | 1⁄10 |
| plethron | 100 | 40 | 20 | 16+2⁄3 | 10 | 1+2⁄3 | 1 | 1⁄6 |
| stadion | 600 | 240 | 120 | 100 | 60 | 10 | 6 | 1 |
| meters | 0.30823 | 0.77057 | 1.54115 | 1.8494 | 3.0823 | 18.4938 | 30.823 | 184.94 |
Area
[edit]The ordinary units used for land measurement were:
| Unit | Greek name | Equal to | Modern equivalent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pous | πούς | 0.095 m2 (1.02 sq ft) | square foot | |
| hexapodēs | ἑξαπόδης | 36 podes | 3.42 m2 (36.8 sq ft) | square six-foot |
| akaina | ἄκαινα | 100 podes | 9.50 m2 (102.3 sq ft) | rod |
| hēmiektos | ἡμίεκτος | 833+1⁄3 podes | 79.2 m2 (853 sq ft) | half a sixth |
| hektos | ἕκτος | 1,666+2⁄3 podes | 158.3 m2 (1,704 sq ft) | a sixth of a plethron |
| aroura | ἄρουρα | 2,500 podes | 237.5 m2 (2,556 sq ft) | field |
| plethron | πλέθρον | 10,000 podes | 950 m2 (10,200 sq ft) | |
| Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).[3] Metric equivalents are approximate. | ||||
Volume
[edit] Neck amphora depicting an athlete running the hoplitodromos by the Berlin Painter, c. 480 BC, Louvre. |
Greeks measured volume according to either solids or liquids, suited respectively to measuring grain and wine. A common unit in both measures throughout historic Greece was the cotyle or cotyla whose absolute value varied from one place to another between 210 ml and 330 ml.[1] The basic unit for both solid and liquid measures was the κύαθος (kyathos, plural: kyathoi).[4]
The Attic liquid measures were:
| Unit | Greek name | Equal to | Modern equivalent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kochliarion | κοχλιάριον | 4.5 mL (0.15 US fl oz; 0.16 imp fl oz) | spoon | |
| chēmē | χήμη | 2 kochliaria | 9.1 mL (0.31 US fl oz; 0.32 imp fl oz) | a measure[7] |
| mystron | μύστρον | 2+1⁄2 kochliaria | 11.4 mL (0.39 US fl oz; 0.40 imp fl oz) | Roman ligula |
| konchē | κόγχη | 5 kochliaria | 22.7 mL (0.77 US fl oz; 0.80 imp fl oz) | shell-full |
| kyathos | κύαθος | 10 kochliaria | 45.5 mL (1.54 US fl oz; 1.60 imp fl oz) | Roman cyathus |
| oxybaphon | ὀξυβαφον | 1+1⁄2 kyathoi | 68.2 mL (2.31 US fl oz; 2.40 imp fl oz) | Roman acetabulum |
| tetarton,[3] hēmikotylē[4] | τέταρτον, ἡμικοτύλη | 3 kyathoi | 136.4 mL (4.61 US fl oz; 4.80 imp fl oz) | Roman quartarius |
| kotylē, tryblion or hēmina | κοτύλη, τρύβλιον, ἡμίνα | 6 kyathoi | 272.8 mL (9.22 US fl oz; 9.60 imp fl oz) | Roman cotyla or hemina |
| xestēs | ξέστης | 12 kyathoi | 545.5 mL (1.153 US pt; 0.960 imp pt) | Roman sextarius |
| chous | χοῦς | 72 kyathoi | 3.27 L (6.9 US pt; 5.75 imp pt) | Roman congius |
| keramion | κεράμιον | 8 choes | 26.2 L (6.9 US gal; 5.8 imp gal) | Roman amphora quadrantal |
| metrētēs | μετρητής | 12 choes | 39.3 L (10.4 US gal; 8.6 imp gal) | amphora |
| Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).[3] Metric equivalents are approximate. | ||||
and the Attic dry measures of capacity were:
| Unit | Greek name | Equal to | Modern equivalent | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kochliarion | κοχλιάριον | 4.5 mL (0.15 US fl oz; 0.16 imp fl oz) | ||
| kyathos | κύαθος | 10 kochliaria | 45.5 mL (1.54 US fl oz; 1.60 imp fl oz) | Roman cyathus |
| oxybaphon | ὀξυβαφον | 1+1⁄2 kyathoi | 68.2 mL (2.31 US fl oz; 2.40 imp fl oz) | Roman acetabulum |
| kotylē or hēmina | κοτύλη, ἡμίνα | 6 kyathoi | 272.8 mL (9.22 US fl oz; 9.60 imp fl oz) | Roman cotyla or hemina |
| xestēs | ξέστης | 12 kyathoi | 545.5 mL (1.153 US pt; 0.960 imp pt) | Roman sextarius |
| choinix | χοῖνιξ | 24 kyathoi | 1.09 L (2.3 US pt; 1.92 imp pt) | |
| hēmiekton | ἡμίεκτον | 4 choinikes | 4.36 L (1.15 US gal; 0.96 imp gal) | Roman semimodius |
| hekteus | ἑκτεύς | 8 choinikes | 8.73 L (2.31 US gal; 1.92 imp gal) | Roman modius |
| medimnos | μέδιμνος | 48 choinikes | 52.4 L (13.8 US gal; 11.5 imp gal) | |
| Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).[3] Metric equivalents are approximate. | ||||
Currency
[edit]The basic unit of Athenian currency was the obol, weighing approximately 0.72 grams of silver:[9][10]
| Unit | Greek name | Equivalent | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| obol or obolus | ὀβολός | 1⁄6 drachma, 4 tetartemorions | 0.72 g (0.023 ozt) |
| drachma | δραχμή | 6 obols | 4.3 g (0.14 ozt) |
| mina | μνᾶ | 100 drachmae | |
| talent | τάλαντον | 60 minae |
Mass
[edit]Mass is often associated with currency since units of currency involve prescribed amounts of a given metal. Thus for example the English pound has been both a unit of mass and a currency. Greek masses similarly bear a nominal resemblance to Greek currency yet the origin of the Greek standards of weights is often disputed.[11] There were two dominant standards of weight in the eastern Mediterranean: a standard that originated in Euboea and that was subsequently introduced to Attica by Solon, and also a standard that originated in Aegina. The Attic/Euboean standard was supposedly based on the barley corn, of which there were supposedly twelve to one obol. However, weights that have been retrieved by historians and archeologists show considerable variations from theoretical standards. A table of standards derived from theory is as follows:[11]
Unit Greek name Equivalent Metric Equivalent Aeginetic standard obol or obolus ὀβολός [12] 0.72 g (0.025 oz) 1.05 g (0.037 oz) drachma δραχμή [13] 6 obols 4.31 g (0.152 oz) 6.3 g (0.22 oz) mina μνᾶ [14] 100 drachmae 431 g (15.2 oz) 630 g (22 oz) talent τάλαντον [15] 60 minae 25.86 kg (57.0 lb) 37.8 kg (83 lb)
Time
[edit]Athenians measured the day by sundials and unit fractions. Periods during night or day were measured by a water clock (clepsydra) that dripped at a steady rate and other methods. Whereas the day in the Gregorian calendar commences after midnight, the Greek day began after sunset. Athenians named each year after the Archon Eponymous for that year, and in Hellenistic times years were reckoned in quadrennial epochs according to the Olympiad.
In archaic and early classical Greece, months followed the cycle of the Moon which made them not fit exactly into the length of the solar year. Thus, if not corrected, the same month would migrate slowly into different seasons of the year. The Athenian year was divided into 12 months, with one additional month (Poseidon deuterons, thirty days) being inserted between the sixth and seventh months every second year. Even with this intercalary month, the Athenian or Attic calendar was still fairly inaccurate and days had occasionally to be added by the Archon Basileus. The start of the year was at the summer solstice (previously it had been at the winter solstice) and months were named after Athenian religious festivals, 27 mentioned in the Hibah Papyrus, circa 275 BC.
| Month | Greek name | Gregorian equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Hecatombaeon | Ἑκατομβαιών | June–July |
| Metageitnion | Μεταγειτνιών | July–August |
| Boedromion | Βοηδρομιών | August–September |
| Pyanepsion | Πυανεψιών | September–October |
| Maemacterion | Μαιμακτηριών | October–November |
| Poseideon | Ποσειδεών | November–December |
| Gamelion | Γαμηλιών | December–January |
| Anthesterion | Ἀνθεστηριών | January–February |
| Elaphebolion | Ἐλαφηβολιών | February–March |
| Munychion | Μουνυχιών | March–April |
| Thargelion | Θαργηλιών | April–May |
| Scirophorion | Σκιροφοριών | May–June |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Measures". The Oxford Classical Dictionary. 2003.
- ^ "What is the unit called a lichas?". www.sizes.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Sir William; Charles Anthon (1851) A new classical dictionary of Greek and Roman biography, mythology, and geography partly based upon the Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology New York: Harper & Bros. Tables, pp. 1024–30
- ^ a b c d e f g EIM:Metrology:History. Hellenic Institute of Metrology (EIM). Archived 13 April 2009.
- ^ Petermandl, Werner (November 19, 2020). "On the length of the Greek hippodrome". In Moretti, Jean-Charles; Valavanis, Panos (eds.). Les hippodromes et les concours hippiques dans la grèce antique. Suppléments du BCH. École française d’Athènes. pp. 133–144. ISBN 9782869584662 – via OpenEdition Books.
- ^ a b Xenophon, Anabasis. ca 400 B.C.
- ^ Ward, Elster F. (February 2, 1899). "Outlines of Sociology" – via Google Books.
- ^ Mounce, Robert H. (2006). The Book of Revelation. Grand Rapids, Mich. [u.a.]: Eerdmans. p. 140. ISBN 9780802825377. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
- ^ British Museum Catalogue 11 - Attica Megaris Aegina
- ^ "History 310: Greek Coinage and Measures". Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved July 31, 2005.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "Weights". The Oxford Classical Dictionary. 2003.
- ^ ὀβολός. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
- ^ δραχμή. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
- ^ μνᾶ. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
- ^ τάλαντον. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
External links
[edit]- "History 310: Greek Coinage and Measures". History/Classics 310. Archived from the original on April 8, 2005. Retrieved December 15, 2005.
- Porter, John. "Greek and Roman Weights, Measures and Currency". Archived from the original on 6 August 2007. Retrieved July 26, 2007.
- Online Conversion of Ancient Greek Units