Greek and Roman Weights, Measures, and Currency
compiled by John Porter, University of Saskatchewan

Notice: This material is the copyrighted property of the author and should not be reproduced without the author's permission.

WEIGHTS

ATHENIAN

• Obol [= .72 gram]
• Drachma = 6 Obols
• Mina = 100 Drachmai
• Talent = 60 Minai [25.86 kilograms]

ROMAN

• uncia
• libra / as = 12 unciae [= 327.45 grams]

LIQUID MEASURES

ATHENIAN

• Kotyle
• Chous = 12 Kotylai [= 3.283 liters]
• Metretes = 12 Choes

ROMAN

• Cyathus
• Sextarius = 12 Cyathi [= .546 liters]
• Amphora = 48 Sextarii
• Culleus = 20 Amphorae

DRY MEASURES

ATHENIAN

• Kotyle
• Choinix = 4 Kotylae [= 1.094 liters]
• Medimnos = 48 Choinikes

ROMAN

• Cyathus
• Sextarius = 12 Cyathi [= .546 liters]
• Modius = 16 Sextarii

LENGTH

GREEK

[Only relative lengths are given, since the length of the Greek "foot" varied by time and region.]

• Dactylos ["finger"]
• Pous ["foot"] = 16 Daktyloi
• Pechys [cubit] = 24 Daktyloi
• Plethron = 100 Podes
• Stadion = 600 Podes

ROMAN

• Uncia
• Digitus
• Pes = 12 Unciae or 16 Digiti [= 296 mm]
• Passus = 5 Pedes
• Stadium = 125 Passus
• Mille (sc. passuum) [1 mile] = 1000 Passus

AREA

GREEK

• Plethron = 10,000 square podes

ROMAN

• Actus Quadratus = 14,400 square pedes
• Iugerum = 28,800 square pedes

CURRENCY

ATHENIAN

• *Obol
• *Drachma = 6 Obols
• *Stater = 2 Drachmai
• *Mina = 100 Drachmai
• *Talent = 60 Minai

ROMAN

• *As
• *Sestertius = 1/4 of a Denarius [abbreviated *HS]
• *Denarius =
  • Prior to c. 133 B.C. — 10 Asses
  • After c. 133 B.C. — 16 Asses

SOURCES

• Oxford English Dictionary, s.vv. "Coinage," "Measures," "Weights."
• Pritchett, W.K. Hesperia 25 (1956) 180ff.

Further Reading

• Richardson, W.F. Numbering and Measuring in the Classical World. Bristol, 2004.
• Finances in Athens

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