ancient Greek units of measurement

{{Short description|System of measurement used in Ancient Greece}}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|date=December 2011}} 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|date=December 2011}}

Length

Some Greek measures of length were named after parts of the body, such as the {{lang|grc|δάκτυλος}} (daktylos, plural: {{lang|grc|δάκτυλοι}} daktyloi) or finger (having the size of a thumb), and the {{lang|grc|πούς}} (pous, plural: {{lang|grc|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 {{convert|333|mm|abbr=on}}, whereas in Athens (Attica) it was about {{convert|296|mm|abbr=on}}), but the relative proportions were generally the same.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" \|+Smaller units of length
Unit ! Greek name ! Equal to ! Modern equivalent ! Description
daktylos \| {{lang\|grc\|δάκτυλος}} \| \|align="right" \|{{convert\|19.3\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| finger
kondylos \| {{lang\|grc\|κόνδυλος}} \|align="right" \| 2 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|38.5\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| knuckle
palaistē or dōron \| {{lang\|grc\|παλαιστή}}, {{lang\|grc\|δῶρον}} \|align="right" \| 4 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|77.1\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| palm
dichas or hēmipodion \| {{lang\|grc\|διχάς}}, {{lang\|grc\|ἡμιπόδιον}} \|align="right" \| 8 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|154.1\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| half foot
lichas \| {{lang\|grc\|λιχάς}} \|align="right" \| 10 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|192.6\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| distance from thumb-tip to tip of outstretched index finger{{Cite web\|url=https://www.sizes.com/units/lichas.htm\|title=What is the unit called a lichas?\|website=www.sizes.com}}
orthodōron \| {{lang\|grc\|ὀρθόδωρον}} \|align="right" \| 11 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|211.9\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| straight hand's width
spithamē \| {{lang\|grc\|σπιθαμή}} \|align="right" \| 12 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|231.2\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \|span of all fingers
pous \| {{lang\|grc\|πούς}} \|align="right" \| 16 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|308.2\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| foot
pygmē \| {{lang\|grc\|πυγμή}} \|align="right" \| 18 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|346.8\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| forearm
pygōn \| {{lang\|grc\|πυγών}} \|align="right" \| 20 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|385.3\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| distance from elbow to fist
pēchys \| {{lang\|grc\|πῆχυς}} \|align="right" \| 24 daktyloi \|align="right" \|{{convert\|462.3\|mm\|in\|abbr=on}} \| cubit
colspan=5 \| {{small\|Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|+Smaller units of length

Unit

! Greek name

! Equal to

! Modern equivalent

! Description

daktylos

| {{lang|grc|δάκτυλος}}

|align="right" |{{convert|19.3|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| finger

kondylos

| {{lang|grc|κόνδυλος}}

|align="right" | 2 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|38.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| knuckle

palaistē or dōron

| {{lang|grc|παλαιστή}}, {{lang|grc|δῶρον}}

|align="right" | 4 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|77.1|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| palm

dichas or hēmipodion

| {{lang|grc|διχάς}}, {{lang|grc|ἡμιπόδιον}}

|align="right" | 8 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|154.1|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| half foot

lichas

| {{lang|grc|λιχάς}}

|align="right" | 10 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|192.6|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| distance from thumb-tip to tip of outstretched index finger{{Cite web|url=https://www.sizes.com/units/lichas.htm|title=What is the unit called a lichas?|website=www.sizes.com}}

orthodōron

| {{lang|grc|ὀρθόδωρον}}

|align="right" | 11 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|211.9|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| straight hand's width

spithamē

| {{lang|grc|σπιθαμή}}

|align="right" | 12 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|231.2|mm|in|abbr=on}}

|span of all fingers

pous

| {{lang|grc|πούς}}

|align="right" | 16 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|308.2|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| foot

pygmē

| {{lang|grc|πυγμή}}

|align="right" | 18 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|346.8|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| forearm

pygōn

| {{lang|grc|πυγών}}

|align="right" | 20 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|385.3|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| distance from elbow to fist

pēchys

| {{lang|grc|πῆχυς}}

|align="right" | 24 daktyloi

|align="right" |{{convert|462.3|mm|in|abbr=on}}

| cubit

colspan=5 | {{small|Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" \|+Smaller units derived from the daktylos ! !daktylos !kondylos !doron !dichas !lichas !orthodoron !spithame !pous !pygme !pygon !pechus !royal pechus
daktylos \|1 \|{{frac\|2}} \|{{frac\|4}} \|{{frac\|8}} \|{{frac\|10}} \|{{frac\|11}} \|{{frac\|12}} \|{{frac\|16}} \|{{frac\|18}} \|{{frac\|20}} \|{{frac\|24}} \|{{frac\|27}}
kondylos \|2 \|1 \|{{frac\|2}} \|{{frac\|4}} \|{{frac\|5}} \|{{frac\|2\|11}} \|{{frac\|6}} \|{{frac\|8}} \|{{frac\|9}} \|{{frac\|10}} \|{{frac\|12}} \|{{frac\|2\|27}}
doron \|4 \|2 \|1 \|{{frac\|2}} \|{{frac\|2\|5}} \|{{frac\|4\|11}} \|{{frac\|3}} \|{{frac\|4}} \|{{frac\|2\|9}} \|{{frac\|5}} \|{{frac\|6}} \|{{frac\|4\|27}}
dichas \|8 \|4 \|2 \|1 \|{{frac\|4\|5}} \|{{frac\|8\|11}} \|{{frac\|2\|3}} \|{{frac\|2}} \|{{frac\|4\|9}} \|{{frac\|2\|5}} \|{{frac\|3}} \|{{frac\|8\|27}}
lichas \|10 \|5 \|{{frac\|2\|1\|2}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|4}} \|1 \|{{frac\|10\|11}} \|{{frac\|5\|6}} \|{{frac\|5\|8}} \|{{frac\|5\|9}} \|{{frac\|2}} \|{{frac\|5\|12}} \|{{frac\|10\|27}}
orthodoron \|11 \|{{frac\|5\|1\|2}} \|{{frac\|2\|3\|4}} \|{{frac\|1\|3\|8}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|10}} \|1 \|{{frac\|11\|12}} \|{{frac\|11\|16}} \|{{frac\|11\|18}} \|{{frac\|11\|20}} \|{{frac\|11\|24}} \|{{frac\|11\|27}}
spithame \|12 \|6 \|3 \|{{frac\|1\|1\|2}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|5}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|11}} \|1 \|{{frac\|3\|4}} \|{{frac\|2\|3}} \|{{frac\|3\|5}} \|{{frac\|2}} \|{{frac\|4\|9}}
pous \|16 \|8 \|4 \|2 \|{{frac\|1\|3\|5}} \|{{frac\|1\|5\|11}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|3}} \|1 \|{{frac\|8\|9}} \|{{frac\|4\|5}} \|{{frac\|2\|3}} \|{{frac\|16\|27}}
pygme \|18 \|9 \|{{frac\|4\|1\|2}} \|{{frac\|2\|1\|4}} \|{{frac\|1\|4\|5}} \|{{frac\|1\|7\|11}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|2}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|8}} \|1 \|{{frac\|9\|10}} \|{{frac\|3\|4}} \|{{frac\|2\|3}}
pygon \|20 \|10 \|5 \|{{frac\|2\|1\|2}} \|2 \|{{frac\|1\|9\|11}} \|{{frac\|1\|2\|3}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|4}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|9}} \|1 \|{{frac\|5\|6}} \|{{frac\|20\|27}}
pechus \|24 \|12 \|6 \|3 \|{{frac\|2\|2\|5}} \|{{frac\|2\|2\|11}} \|2 \|{{frac\|1\|1\|2}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|3}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|5}} \|1 \|{{frac\|8\|9}}
royal pechus \|27 \|{{frac\|13\|1\|2}} \|{{frac\|6\|3\|4}} \|{{frac\|3\|3\|8}} \|{{frac\|2\|7\|10}} \|{{frac\|2\|5\|11}} \|{{frac\|2\|1\|4}} \|{{frac\|1\|11\|16}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|2}} \|{{frac\|1\|7\|20}} \|{{frac\|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

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|+Smaller units derived from the daktylos

!daktylos

!kondylos

!doron

!dichas

!lichas

!orthodoron

!spithame

!pous

!pygme

!pygon

!pechus

!royal pechus

daktylos

|{{frac|2}}

|{{frac|4}}

|{{frac|8}}

|{{frac|10}}

|{{frac|11}}

|{{frac|12}}

|{{frac|16}}

|{{frac|18}}

|{{frac|20}}

|{{frac|24}}

|{{frac|27}}

kondylos

|{{frac|2}}

|{{frac|4}}

|{{frac|5}}

|{{frac|2|11}}

|{{frac|6}}

|{{frac|8}}

|{{frac|9}}

|{{frac|10}}

|{{frac|12}}

|{{frac|2|27}}

doron

|{{frac|2}}

|{{frac|2|5}}

|{{frac|4|11}}

|{{frac|3}}

|{{frac|4}}

|{{frac|2|9}}

|{{frac|5}}

|{{frac|6}}

|{{frac|4|27}}

dichas

|{{frac|4|5}}

|{{frac|8|11}}

|{{frac|2|3}}

|{{frac|2}}

|{{frac|4|9}}

|{{frac|2|5}}

|{{frac|3}}

|{{frac|8|27}}

lichas

|10

|{{frac|2|1|2}}

|{{frac|1|1|4}}

|{{frac|10|11}}

|{{frac|5|6}}

|{{frac|5|8}}

|{{frac|5|9}}

|{{frac|2}}

|{{frac|5|12}}

|{{frac|10|27}}

orthodoron

|11

|{{frac|5|1|2}}

|{{frac|2|3|4}}

|{{frac|1|3|8}}

|{{frac|1|1|10}}

|{{frac|11|12}}

|{{frac|11|16}}

|{{frac|11|18}}

|{{frac|11|20}}

|{{frac|11|24}}

|{{frac|11|27}}

spithame

|12

|{{frac|1|1|2}}

|{{frac|1|1|5}}

|{{frac|1|1|11}}

|{{frac|3|4}}

|{{frac|2|3}}

|{{frac|3|5}}

|{{frac|2}}

|{{frac|4|9}}

pous

|16

|{{frac|1|3|5}}

|{{frac|1|5|11}}

|{{frac|1|1|3}}

|{{frac|8|9}}

|{{frac|4|5}}

|{{frac|2|3}}

|{{frac|16|27}}

pygme

|18

|{{frac|4|1|2}}

|{{frac|2|1|4}}

|{{frac|1|4|5}}

|{{frac|1|7|11}}

|{{frac|1|1|2}}

|{{frac|1|1|8}}

|{{frac|9|10}}

|{{frac|3|4}}

|{{frac|2|3}}

pygon

|20

|10

|{{frac|2|1|2}}

|{{frac|1|9|11}}

|{{frac|1|2|3}}

|{{frac|1|1|4}}

|{{frac|1|1|9}}

|{{frac|5|6}}

|{{frac|20|27}}

pechus

|24

|12

|{{frac|2|2|5}}

|{{frac|2|2|11}}

|{{frac|1|1|2}}

|{{frac|1|1|3}}

|{{frac|1|1|5}}

|{{frac|8|9}}

royal pechus

|27

|{{frac|13|1|2}}

|{{frac|6|3|4}}

|{{frac|3|3|8}}

|{{frac|2|7|10}}

|{{frac|2|5|11}}

|{{frac|2|1|4}}

|{{frac|1|11|16}}

|{{frac|1|1|2}}

|{{frac|1|7|20}}

|{{frac|1|1|8}}

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

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" \|+Larger units of length
Unit ! Greek name ! Equal to ! Modern equivalent ! Description
pous \| {{lang\|grc\|πούς}} \| \|align="right" \|{{convert\|0.308\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}} \| foot
haploun bēma \| {{lang\|grc\|ἁπλοῦν βῆμα}} \|align="right" \| {{frac\|2\|1\|2}} podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|0.77\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}} \| step
bēma, diploun bēma \| {{lang\|grc\|βῆμα, διπλοῦν βῆμα}} \|align="right" \| 5 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|1.54\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}} \| pace
orgyia \| {{lang\|grc\|ὄργυια}} \|align="right" \| 6 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|1.85\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}} \| fathom
kalamos, akaina or dekapous \| {{lang\|grc\|κάλαμος, ἄκαινα, δεκάπους}} \|align="right" \| 10 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|3.08\|m\|ft\|abbr=on}} \|10 feet
hamma \| {{lang\|grc\|ἅμμα}} \|align="right" \| 60 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|18.5\|m\|yd\|abbr=on}} \| knot, link of a chain
plethron \| {{lang\|grc\|πλέθρον}} \|align="right" \| 100 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|30.8\|m\|yd\|abbr=on}} \|100 feet
stadion \| {{lang\|grc\|στάδιον}} \|align="right" \| 600 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|184.9\|m\|yd\|abbr=on}} \| an eighth of a Roman mile
diaulos \| {{lang\|grc\|δίαυλος}} \|align="right" \| 2 stadia \|align="right" \|{{convert\|369.9\|m\|yd\|abbr=on}} \|double pipe
hippikon \| {{lang\|grc\|ἱππικόν}} \|align="right" \| 4 stadia \|align="right" \|{{convert\|739.7\|m\|yd\|abbr=on}} \|length of a hippodrome{{Cite book\|url=http://books.openedition.org/efa/6487\|title=Les hippodromes et les concours hippiques dans la grèce antique\|first=Werner\|last=Petermandl\|chapter=On the length of the Greek hippodrome\|series=Suppléments du BCH\|editor1-first=Jean-Charles\|editor1-last=Moretti\|editor2-first=Panos\|editor2-last=Valavanis\|date=November 19, 2020\|publisher=École française d’Athènes\|pages=133–144\|isbn=9782869584662\|via=OpenEdition Books}}
milion \| {{lang\|grc\|μίλιον}} \|align="right" \| 8 stadia \|align="right" \|{{convert\|1.479\|km\|yd\|abbr=on}} \|Roman mile
dolichos \| {{lang\|grc\|δόλιχος}} \|align="right" \| 12 stadia \|align="right" \|{{convert\|2.219\|km\|mi\|abbr=on}} \|long race
parasanges, or leagueXenophon, Anabasis. ca 400 B.C. \| {{lang\|grc\|παρασάγγης}} \|align="right" \| 30 stadia \|align="right" \|{{convert\|5.548\|km\|mi\|abbr=on}} \| adopted from Persia
schoinos \| {{lang\|grc\|σχοινός}} \|align="right" \| 40 stadia \|align="right" \|{{convert\|7.397\|km\|mi\|abbr=on}} \| adopted from Egypt
stage \| \|align="right" \| 160 stadia \|align="right" \|{{convert\|29.8\|km\|mi\|abbr=on}} \|
colspan=5 \| {{small\|Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|+Larger units of length

Unit

! Greek name

! Equal to

! Modern equivalent

! Description

pous

| {{lang|grc|πούς}}

|align="right" |{{convert|0.308|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| foot

haploun bēma

| {{lang|grc|ἁπλοῦν βῆμα}}

|align="right" | {{frac|2|1|2}} podes

|align="right" |{{convert|0.77|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| step

bēma, diploun bēma

| {{lang|grc|βῆμα, διπλοῦν βῆμα}}

|align="right" | 5 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|1.54|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| pace

orgyia

| {{lang|grc|ὄργυια}}

|align="right" | 6 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|1.85|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| fathom

kalamos, akaina or dekapous

| {{lang|grc|κάλαμος, ἄκαινα, δεκάπους}}

|align="right" | 10 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|3.08|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|10 feet

hamma

| {{lang|grc|ἅμμα}}

|align="right" | 60 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|18.5|m|yd|abbr=on}}

| knot, link of a chain

plethron

| {{lang|grc|πλέθρον}}

|align="right" | 100 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|30.8|m|yd|abbr=on}}

|100 feet

stadion

| {{lang|grc|στάδιον}}

|align="right" | 600 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|184.9|m|yd|abbr=on}}

| an eighth of a Roman mile

diaulos

| {{lang|grc|δίαυλος}}

|align="right" | 2 stadia

|align="right" |{{convert|369.9|m|yd|abbr=on}}

|double pipe

hippikon

| {{lang|grc|ἱππικόν}}

|align="right" | 4 stadia

|align="right" |{{convert|739.7|m|yd|abbr=on}}

|length of a hippodrome{{Cite book|url=http://books.openedition.org/efa/6487|title=Les hippodromes et les concours hippiques dans la grèce antique|first=Werner|last=Petermandl|chapter=On the length of the Greek hippodrome|series=Suppléments du BCH|editor1-first=Jean-Charles|editor1-last=Moretti|editor2-first=Panos|editor2-last=Valavanis|date=November 19, 2020|publisher=École française d’Athènes|pages=133–144|isbn=9782869584662|via=OpenEdition Books}}

milion

| {{lang|grc|μίλιον}}

|align="right" | 8 stadia

|align="right" |{{convert|1.479|km|yd|abbr=on}}

|Roman mile

dolichos

| {{lang|grc|δόλιχος}}

|align="right" | 12 stadia

|align="right" |{{convert|2.219|km|mi|abbr=on}}

|long race

parasanges, or leagueXenophon, Anabasis. ca 400 B.C.

| {{lang|grc|παρασάγγης}}

|align="right" | 30 stadia

|align="right" |{{convert|5.548|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| adopted from Persia

schoinos

| {{lang|grc|σχοινός}}

|align="right" | 40 stadia

|align="right" |{{convert|7.397|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| adopted from Egypt

stage

|align="right" | 160 stadia

|align="right" |{{convert|29.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}

colspan=5 | {{small|Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.}}

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" \|+Larger units derived from the pous ! !pous !bema haplun !bema diplun !orguia !akaina !hamma !plethron !stadion
pous \|1 \|{{frac\|2\|5}} \|{{frac\|5}} \|{{frac\|6}} \|{{frac\|10}} \|{{frac\|60}} \|{{frac\|100}} \|{{frac\|600}}
bema haplun \|{{frac\|2\|1\|2}} \|1 \|{{frac\|2}} \|{{frac\|5\|12}} \|{{frac\|4}} \|{{frac\|24}} \|{{frac\|40}} \|{{frac\|240}}
bema diplun \|5 \|2 \|1 \|{{frac\|5\|6}} \|{{frac\|2}} \|{{frac\|12}} \|{{frac\|20}} \|{{frac\|120}}
orguia \|6 \|{{frac\|2\|2\|5}} \|{{frac\|1\|1\|5}} \|1 \|{{frac\|3\|5}} \|{{frac\|10}} \|{{frac\|3\|50}} \|{{frac\|100}}
akaina \|10 \|4 \|2 \|{{frac\|1\|2\|3}} \|1 \|{{frac\|6}} \|{{frac\|10}} \|{{frac\|60}}
hamma \|60 \|24 \|12 \|10 \|6 \|1 \|{{frac\|3\|5}} \|{{frac\|10}}
plethron \|100 \|40 \|20 \|{{frac\|16\|2\|3}} \|10 \|{{frac\|1\|2\|3}} \|1 \|{{frac\|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

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|+Larger units derived from the pous

!pous

!bema haplun

!bema diplun

!orguia

!akaina

!hamma

!plethron

!stadion

pous

|{{frac|2|5}}

|{{frac|5}}

|{{frac|6}}

|{{frac|10}}

|{{frac|60}}

|{{frac|100}}

|{{frac|600}}

bema haplun

|{{frac|2|1|2}}

|{{frac|2}}

|{{frac|5|12}}

|{{frac|4}}

|{{frac|24}}

|{{frac|40}}

|{{frac|240}}

bema diplun

|{{frac|5|6}}

|{{frac|2}}

|{{frac|12}}

|{{frac|20}}

|{{frac|120}}

orguia

|{{frac|2|2|5}}

|{{frac|1|1|5}}

|{{frac|3|5}}

|{{frac|10}}

|{{frac|3|50}}

|{{frac|100}}

akaina

|10

|{{frac|1|2|3}}

|{{frac|6}}

|{{frac|10}}

|{{frac|60}}

hamma

|60

|24

|12

|10

|{{frac|3|5}}

|{{frac|10}}

plethron

|100

|40

|20

|{{frac|16|2|3}}

|10

|{{frac|1|2|3}}

|{{frac|6}}

stadion

|600

|240

|120

|100

|60

|10

meters

|0.30823

|0.77057

|1.54115

|1.8494

|3.0823

|18.4938

|30.823

|184.94

Area

The ordinary units used for land measurement were:

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto" \|+ Units of surface measurement
Unit ! Greek name ! Equal to ! Modern equivalent ! Description
pous \| {{lang\|grc\|πούς}} \| \|align="right" \|{{convert\|950\|cm2\|sqft\|abbr=on}} \| square foot
hexapodēs \| {{lang\|grc\|ἑξαπόδης}} \|align="right" \| 36 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|3.42\|m2\|sqft\|abbr=on}} \| square six-foot
akaina \| {{lang\|grc\|ἄκαινα}} \|align="right" \| 100 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|9.50\|m2\|sqft\|abbr=on}} \| rod
hēmiektos \| {{lang\|grc\|ἡμίεκτος}} \|align="right" \| {{frac\|833\|1\|3}} podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|79.2\|m2\|sqft\|abbr=on}} \| half a sixth
hektos \| {{lang\|grc\|ἕκτος}} \|align="right" \| {{frac\|1,666\|2\|3}} podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|158.3\|m2\|sqft\|abbr=on}} \| a sixth of a plethron
aroura \| {{lang\|grc\|ἄρουρα}} \|align="right" \| 2,500 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|237.5\|m2\|sqft\|abbr=on}} \| field
plethron \| {{lang\|grc\|πλέθρον}} \|align="right" \| 10,000 podes \|align="right" \|{{convert\|950\|m2\|sqft\|abbr=on}} \|
colspan=5 style= "font-size:smaller" \| Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|+ Units of surface measurement

Unit

! Greek name

! Equal to

! Modern equivalent

! Description

pous

| {{lang|grc|πούς}}

|align="right" |{{convert|950|cm2|sqft|abbr=on}}

| square foot

hexapodēs

| {{lang|grc|ἑξαπόδης}}

|align="right" | 36 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|3.42|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}

| square six-foot

akaina

| {{lang|grc|ἄκαινα}}

|align="right" | 100 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|9.50|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}

| rod

hēmiektos

| {{lang|grc|ἡμίεκτος}}

|align="right" | {{frac|833|1|3}} podes

|align="right" |{{convert|79.2|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}

| half a sixth

hektos

| {{lang|grc|ἕκτος}}

|align="right" | {{frac|1,666|2|3}} podes

|align="right" |{{convert|158.3|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}

| a sixth of a plethron

aroura

| {{lang|grc|ἄρουρα}}

|align="right" | 2,500 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|237.5|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}

| field

plethron

| {{lang|grc|πλέθρον}}

|align="right" | 10,000 podes

|align="right" |{{convert|950|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}

colspan=5 style= "font-size:smaller" | Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.

Volume

style="float: right; border: 1px solid #BBB; margin: .46em 0 0 .2em;"

style="font-size: 90%;"

| valign="top" |200px
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. The basic unit for both solid and liquid measures was the {{lang|grc|κύαθος}} (kyathos, plural: kyathoi).

The Attic liquid measures were:

class="wikitable" style="float: center; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|+Attic measures of liquid capacity

! Unit

! Greek name

! Equal to

! Modern equivalent

! Description

kochliarion

| {{lang|grc|κοχλιάριον}}

|align="right" |{{convert|4.5|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|spoon

chēmē

| {{lang|grc|χήμη}}

|align="right" |2 kochliaria

| align="right" |{{convert|9.1|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

| a measure{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=am2RYwGZgowC&q=%CF%87%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%B7+measure|title=Outlines of Sociology|first=Elster F.|last=Ward|date=February 2, 1899|via=Google Books}}

mystron

| {{lang|grc|μύστρον}}

|align="right" |{{frac|2|1|2}} kochliaria

| align="right" |{{convert|11.4|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|Roman ligula

konchē

| {{lang|grc|κόγχη}}

|align="right" |5 kochliaria

| align="right" |{{convert|22.7|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|shell-full

kyathos

| {{lang|grc|κύαθος}}

|align="right" | 10 kochliaria

| align="right" |{{convert|45.5|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|Roman cyathus

oxybaphon

| {{lang|grc|ὀξυβαφον}}

|align="right" |{{frac|1|1|2}} kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|68.2|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|Roman acetabulum

tetarton, hēmikotylē

| {{lang|grc|τέταρτον, ἡμικοτύλη}}

|align="right" |3 kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|136.4|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|Roman quartarius

kotylē, tryblion or hēmina

| {{lang|grc|κοτύλη, τρύβλιον, ἡμίνα}}

|align="right" |6 kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|272.8|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|Roman cotyla or hemina

xestēs

| {{lang|grc|ξέστης}}

|align="right" |12 kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|545.5|mL|USpt imppt|3|abbr=on}}

|Roman sextarius

chous

| {{lang|grc|χοῦς}}

| align="right" |72 kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|3.27|L|USpt imppt|abbr=on}}

|Roman congius

keramion

| {{lang|grc|κεράμιον}}

| align="right" |8 choes

| align="right" |{{convert|26.2|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}

|Roman amphora quadrantal

metrētēs

| {{lang|grc|μετρητής}}

| align="right" |12 choes

| align="right" |{{convert|39.3|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}

|amphora

colspan=5 style= "font-size:smaller" | Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.

File:BritLibAddMS35166ApocalypseUnkFolio3SealBlackHorse.jpg holding a set of scales; in the Book of Revelation he proclaims "A choinix of wheat for a denarius, and three choinikes of barley for a denarius;" indicating high food prices during a famine.{{cite book|last1=Mounce|first1=Robert H.|title=The Book of Revelation|date=2006|publisher=Eerdmans|location=Grand Rapids, Mich. [u.a.]|isbn=9780802825377|page=140|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=06VR1JzzLNsC&q=interpretation%20of%20revelation&pg=PA140|access-date=2015-04-10}}

]]

and the Attic dry measures of capacity were:

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

|+Attic measures of dry capacity

! Unit

! Greek name

! Equal to

! Modern equivalent

! Description

kochliarion

| {{lang|grc|κοχλιάριον}}

|align="right" |{{convert|4.5|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

kyathos

| {{lang|grc|κύαθος}}

|align="right" | 10 kochliaria

| align="right" |{{convert|45.5|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|Roman cyathus

oxybaphon

| {{lang|grc|ὀξυβαφον}}

|align="right" |{{frac|1|1|2}} kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|68.2|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|Roman acetabulum

kotylē or hēmina

| {{lang|grc|κοτύλη, ἡμίνα}}

|align="right" |6 kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|272.8|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}

|Roman cotyla or hemina

xestēs

| {{lang|grc|ξέστης}}

|align="right" |12 kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|545.5|mL|USpt imppt|3|abbr=on}}

|Roman sextarius

choinix

| {{lang|grc|χοῖνιξ}}

| align="right" |24 kyathoi

| align="right" |{{convert|1.09|L|USpt imppt|abbr=on}}

hēmiekton

| {{lang|grc|ἡμίεκτον}}

|align="right" | 4 choinikes

| align="right" |{{convert|4.36|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}

|Roman semimodius

hekteus

| {{lang|grc|ἑκτεύς}}

|align="right" | 8 choinikes

| align="right" |{{convert|8.73|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}

|Roman modius

medimnos

| μέδιμνος

|align="right" | 48 choinikes

| align="right" |{{convert|52.4|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}

colspan=5 style= "font-size:smaller" | Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.

Currency

The basic unit of Athenian currency was the obol, weighing approximately 0.72 grams of silver:British Museum Catalogue 11 - Attica Megaris Aegina{{Cite web |url=http://www.tulane.edu/~august/H310/handouts/Coinage.htm |title=History 310: Greek Coinage and Measures |access-date=July 31, 2005 |archive-date=May 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504125619/http://www.tulane.edu/~august/H310/handouts/Coinage.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}

File:SNGCop 053.jpg

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

! Unit

! Greek name

! Equivalent

! Weight

obol or obolus

| {{lang|grc|ὀβολός}}

| {{frac|6}} drachma, 4 tetartemorions

| {{convert|0.72|g|ozt|abbr=on}}

drachma

| {{lang|grc|δραχμή}}

| 6 obols

| {{convert|4.3|g|ozt|abbr=on}}

mina

| {{lang|grc|μνᾶ}}

| 100 drachmae

talent

|{{lang|grc|τάλαντον}}

| 60 minae

Mass

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. 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:

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

! Unit

! Greek name

! Equivalent

! Metric Equivalent

! Aeginetic standard

obol or obolus

| {{lang|grc|ὀβολός}} {{LSJ|o)bolo/s|ὀβολός|cite}}

| {{convert|0.72|g|oz|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|1.05|g|oz|abbr=on}}

drachma

| {{lang|grc|δραχμή}} {{LSJ|draxmh/|δραχμή|cite}}

| 6 obols

| {{convert|4.31|g|oz|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|6.3|g|oz|abbr=on}}

mina

| {{lang|grc|μνᾶ}} {{LSJ|mna=|μνᾶ|cite}}

| 100 drachmae

| {{convert|431|g|oz|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|630|g|oz|abbr=on}}

talent

|{{lang|grc|τάλαντον}} {{LSJ|ta/lanton|τάλαντον|cite}}

| 60 minae

| {{convert|25.86|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|37.8|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

Time

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.

File:Elgin marbles frieze.jpg shows a cavalry procession that was part of the quadrennial Greater Panathenaic festival, always held in the month Hekatombion.]]

class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

! Month

! Greek name

! Gregorian equivalent

Hecatombaeon

| {{lang|grc|Ἑκατομβαιών}}

| June–July

Metageitnion

| {{lang|grc|Μεταγειτνιών}}

| July–August

Boedromion

| {{lang|grc|Βοηδρομιών}}

| August–September

Pyanepsion

| {{lang|grc|Πυανεψιών}}

| September–October

Maemacterion

| {{lang|grc|Μαιμακτηριών}}

| October–November

Poseideon

| {{lang|grc|Ποσειδεών}}

| November–December

Gamelion

| {{lang|grc|Γαμηλιών}}

| December–January

Anthesterion

| {{lang|grc|Ἀνθεστηριών}}

| January–February

Elaphebolion

| {{lang|grc|Ἐλαφηβολιών}}

| February–March

Munychion

| {{lang|grc|Μουνυχιών}}

| March–April

Thargelion

| {{lang|grc|Θαργηλιών}}

| April–May

Scirophorion

| {{lang|grc|Σκιροφοριών}}

| May–June

References

{{Reflist|refs=

EIM:Metrology:History. Hellenic Institute of Metrology (EIM). [https://web.archive.org/web/20090413022319/http://www.eim.org.gr/html/english/metrology/history/greece.html Archived 13 April 2009].

{{cite encyclopedia|title=Measures|encyclopedia=The Oxford Classical Dictionary|year=2003}}

Smith, Sir William; Charles Anthon (1851) [https://books.google.com/books?id=uUPhhcdSACQC 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

{{cite encyclopedia|title=Weights|encyclopedia=The Oxford Classical Dictionary|year=2003}}

}}

External links

{{cite web|title=History 310: Greek Coinage and Measures |work=History/Classics 310 |url=http://www.tulane.edu/~august/H310/handouts/Coinage.htm |access-date=December 15, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408035420/http://www.tulane.edu/~august/H310/handouts/Coinage.htm |archive-date=April 8, 2005 }}
{{cite web |author=Porter, John |title=Greek and Roman Weights, Measures and Currency |url=http://homepage.usask.ca/~jrp638/CourseNotes/weightsmeasures.html | access-date=July 26, 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070806055753/http://homepage.usask.ca/~jrp638/CourseNotes/weightsmeasures.html| archive-date= 6 August 2007 | url-status= live}}
[http://www.imperialtometric.com/AncientGreekUnits.htm Online Conversion of Ancient Greek Units]

Category:Obsolete units of measurement

Category:Human-based units of measurement

ancient Greek units of measurement

Length

Area

Volume

Currency

Mass

Time

See also

References

External links