Complex sentence: These were supposed to warn the wheat merchants against cheating using false measures: cheaters had their right hand cut, as happened in the 5th century to two sailors accused of having swindled the Emperor while selling him cereals.
Split into simpler sentences: These were supposed to warn the wheat merchants against cheating using false measures. Cheaters had their right hand cut, as happened in the 5th century to two sailors accused of having swindled the Emperor while selling him cereals.