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Roman Weights and Measures
The Pes, or foot, was variously divided. It contained 4
Palmi or handbreadths, each of which was therefore 3 inches
long—and it contained 16 Digiti, or finger breadths, each of
which was therefore three-quarters of an inch long—and it
contained 12 Unciae, or inches: any number of which was used
to signify the same number of ounces.
Cubitus, a cubit, was 1½ feet long—Pollex, a thumb's
breadth, 1 inch—Palmipes, a foot and hand's breadth, i.e. 15
inches long—Pertica, a perch, 10 feet long—the lesser Actus
was a space of ground 120 feet long by four broad—the
greater Actus was 120 feet square—two square Actus made a
Jugerum, or acre, which contained therefore 28,000 square
feet.
Roman Weights and Measures
- The Pound
The principal Weight in use
among the Romans, was the pound, called As or Libra, which
was equal to 12 oz. avoirdupoise, or 16 oz. It was divided
into twelve ounces, the names of which were as follow:
Uncia, 1 oz *** Sextans, 2 oz *** Triens, 3 oz *** Quadrans, 4 oz *** Quincunx, 5 oz *** Septunx, 7 oz *** Bes, 8 oz *** Dodrans, 9 oz *** Dextans, 10 oz *** Deunx, 11 oz.
The As and its divisions were applied
to anything divided into twelve parts, as well as to a pound
weight. The twelfth part of an acre was called Uncia and
half a foot, Semis etc.
Roman Weights and Measures
- Dry Weights
The Measures for Dry
Weights
Modius, a peck *** Semimodius, a gallon—Sextanus,
a pint—Hemina, one-half pint, and 3 smaller measures, for which we
have not equivalent names in English *** One Modius contained 2
Semimodii *** each Semimodius contained 8
Sextarii *** each Sextarius, 2 Heminae *** each Hemina, 4 Acetabula *** each Acetabulum, 1½ Cyathi *** each Cyathus, 4 Ligulae. *** Dodrans, 9 oz
Roman Weights and Measures
- Liquid Measures
The Liquid Measures of
Capacity were the Culeus, which was equal to 144½ gallons—it
contained 20 Amphorae or Quadrantales—each Amphora, 2 Urnae—each
Urna, 4 Congii—each Congius, 6 Sextarii—and each Sextarius,
2 Quartarii or naggins—each Quartarius, 2 Heminae—each
Hemina, 3 Acetabula or glasses—each Acetabulum, 1½ Cyathi—and
each Cyathus, 4 Ligulae.
Roman Weights and Measures
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