Ancient Greek units of measurement
Length

Ancient Greek units of measurement

Section Title: Length
Table Section Text: None

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)

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)

orthodōron	ὀρθόδωρον	11 daktyloi	211.9 mm (8.34 in)

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)

pēchys	πῆχυς	24 daktyloi	462.3 mm (18.20 in)	cubit

Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.

Sentence(s)

Some Greek measures of length were named after parts of the body, such as the δάκτυλος (daktylos) or finger, and the πούς (pous) or foot.

final_sentence: Some Greek measures of length were named after parts of the body, such as the δάκτυλος (daktylos) or finger, and the πούς (pous) or foot.