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 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 BCE, Athens had a central depository of official weights and measures, the Tholos, where merchants were required to test their measuring devices against official standards.
== Length ==
Some Greek measures of length were named after parts of the body, such as the δάκτυλος (daktylos, plural: daktyloi) or finger (having the size of a thumb), and the ποῦς (pous, plural: 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 , whereas in Athens (Attica) it was about ), but the relative proportions were generally the same
Smaller units of length
Unit 	Greek name 	Equal to 	Metric equivalent 	Description
daktylos 	δάκτυλος 	 	 	finger
kondylos 	κόνδυλος 	2 daktyloi 	 	
palaistē or dōron 	παλαιστή, δῶρον 	4 daktyloi 	 	palm
dichas or hēmipodion 	διχάς, ἡμιπόδιον 	8 daktyloi 	 	half foot
lichas 	λιχάς 	10 daktyloi 	 	
orthodōron 	ὀρθόδωρον 	11 daktyloi 	 	
spithamē 	σπιθαμή 	12 daktyloi 	 	span of all fingers
pous 	ποῦς 	16 daktyloi 	 	foot
pygmē 	πυγμή 	18 daktyloi 	 	
pygōn 	πυγών 	20 daktyloi 	 	
pēchys 	πῆχυς 	24 daktyloi 	 	cubit
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.
Larger units of length
Unit 	Greek name 	Equal to 	Metric equivalent 	Description
pous 	ποῦς 	 	 	foot
haploun bēma 	ἁπλοῦν βῆμα 	2.5 podes 	 	single pace
bēma, diploun bēma 	βῆμα, διπλοῦν βῆμα 	5 podes 	 	double pace
orgyia 	ὄργυια 	6 podes 	 	fathom
kalamos, akaina or dekapous 	κάλαμος, ἄκαινα, δεκάπους 	10 podes 	 	
hamma 	ἅμμα 	60 podes 	 	
plethron 	πλέθρον 	100 podes 	 	
stadion 	στάδιον 	600 podes 	 	appr. of a nautical mile
diaulos 	δίαυλος 	2 stadia 	 	
hippikon 	ἱππικόν 	4 stadia 	 	
milion 	μίλιον 	8 stadia 	 	Roman mile
dolichos 	δόλιχος 	12 stadia 	 	
parasanges, or leagueXenophon, Anabasis. ca 400 BCE 	παρασάγγες 	30 stadia 	 	adopted from Persia
schoinos 	σχοινός 	40 stadia 	 	adopted from Egypt
stage 	 	160 stadia 	 	
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.
== Area ==
The ordinary units used for land measurement were:
 Units of surface measurement
Unit 	Greek name 	Equal to 	Metric equivalent 	Description
pous 	ποῦς 	 	0.095 m2  	square foot
hexapodēs 	ἑξαπόδης 	36 podes 	3.42 m2  	
akaina 	ἄκαινα 	100 podes 	9.50 m2  	
hēmiektos 	ἡμίεκτος 	833 podes 	79.2 m2  	
hektos 	ἕκτος 	1666 podes 	158.3 m2  	a sixth of a plethron
aroura 	ἄρουρα 	2500 podes 	237.5 m2  	
plethron 	πλέθρον 	10000 podes 	950 m2  	
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.
== Volume ==
Neck amphora depicting an athleterunning the hoplitodromos by the BerlinPainter, ca. 480 BCE, Louvre.
Greeks measured volume according to either dry or liquid capacity, 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 κύαθος (kyathos, plural: kyathoi).
The Attic liquid measures were:
Attic measures of liquid capacity
Unit 	Greek name 	Equal to 	Metric equivalent 	Description
kochliarion 	κοχλιάριον 	 	4.5 ml  	spoon
xēmē 	χήμη 	2 kochliaria 	9.1 ml  	
mustron 	μύστρον 	2 kochliaria 	11.4 ml  	
konchē 	κόγχη 	5 kochliaria 	22.7 ml  	
kyathos 	κύαθος 	10 kochliaria 	45.5 ml  	
oxybathon 	᾿οξυβαθον 	1 kyathoi 	68.2 ml  	
tetarton, hēmikotylē 	τέταρτον, ἡμικοτύλη 	3 kyathoi 	136.4 ml  	
kotylē, trublion or hēmina 	κοτύλη, τρύβλιον, ἡμίνα 	6 kyathoi 	272.8 ml  	
xestēs 	ξέστης 	12 kyathoi 	545.5 ml  	Roman sextarius
chous 	χοῦς 	72 kyathoi 	3.27 l  	
keramion 	κεράμιον 	8 choes 	26.2 l  	Roman amphora
metrētēs 	μετρητής 	12 choes 	39.3 l  	amphora
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.
and the Attic dry measures of capacity were:
Attic measures of dry capacity
Unit 	Greek name 	Equal to 	Metric equivalent 	Description
kochliarion 	κοχλιάριον 	 	4.5 ml  	
kyathos 	κύαθος 	10 kochliaria 	45.5 ml  	
oxybathon 	᾿οξυβαθον 	1 kyathoi 	68.2 ml  	
kotylē or hēmina 	κοτύλη, ἡμίνα 	6 kyathoi 	272.8 ml  	
xestēs 	ξέστης 	12 kyathoi 	545.5 ml  	Roman sextarius
choinix 	χοῖνιξ 	24 kyathoi 	1.09 l  	
hēmiekton 	ἡμίεκτον 	4 choinikes 	4.36 l  	
hecteus 	ἑκτεύς 	8 choinikes 	8.73 l  	a sixth of a medimnos
medimnos 	μέδιμνος 	48 choinikes 	52.4 l  	
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Metric equivalents are approximate.	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
Unit 	Greek name	Equivalent 	Weight
obol or obolus	ὀβολὸς 	1/6 drachma, 4 tetartemorions	0.72 g
drachma 	δραχμὴ 	6 obols 	4.3 g
mina 	μνᾶ 	100 drachmae 	
talent 	τάλαντον 	60 minae 	
== Weight ==
Weights are 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 weight and a unit of currency. Greek weights 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:
::
Unit 	Greek name	Equivalent 	Attic/Euboic standard	Aeginetic standard
obol or obolus	ὀβολός 	 	0.72 g 	1.05 g
drachma 	δραχμή 	6 obols 	4.31 g 	6.3 g
mina 	μνᾶ 	100 drachmae	431 g 	630 g
talent 	τάλαντον 	60 minae 	25.86 kg 	37.8 kg
== 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 Eponymos 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 to not fit exactly into the solar year. Thus, if not corrected, the same month would migrate slowly in different seasons of the year. The Athenian year was divided into 12 months, with one additional month (poseideon deuteros, 30 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, circ 275 BCE.
Month 	Greek name 	Gregorian equivalent
Hecatombaeon	Ἑκατομβαιών 	June–July
Metageitnion	Μεταγειτνιών	July-Aug
Boedromion 	Βοηδρομιών 	Aug-Sept
Pyanepsion 	Πυανεψιών 	Sept-Oct
Maemacterion	Μαιμακτηριών	Oct-Nov
Poseideon 	Ποσειδεών 	Nov-Dec
Gamelion 	Γαμηλιών 	Dec-Jan
Anthesterion	Ἀνθεστηριών 	Jan-Feb
Elaphebolion	Ἐλαφηβολιών 	Feb-March
Munychion 	Μουνυχιών 	March–April
Thargelion 	Θαργηλιών 	April–May
Scirophorion	Σκιροφοριών 	May–June
==References==
== External links ==
* 
* 
*Online Conversion of Ancient Greek Units
Category:Ancient Greece