Everything about Ancient Greek Units Of Measurement totally explained
The
Greek system of
weights and measures was built mainly upon the
Egyptian, and formed the basis of the later
Roman system.
» Although we might suggest that the Egyptians had discovered the art of measurement, it's really only with the Greeks that the science of measurement begins to appear. The Greeks' knowledge of geometry, and their early experimentation with weights and measures, soon began to place their measurement system on a more scientific basis. By comparison, Roman science, which came later, wasn't as advanced... (Quoted from the website of the Canada Science and Technology Museum
(External Link
))
Generally speaking, standards of measurement within the ancient Greek world varied according to location and epoch. In a city state like Athens, for example, units of measurement evolved as needs changed and sometimes they were radically reformed by influential figures such as
Solon. In time, some units of measurement were found to be convenient for trade within the Mediterranean region and these units became more and more common to different city states. Similarly the calibration and use of measuring devices became more sophisticated over time. By about 500 BC, Athens already had its own central depository of official weights and measures — the
Tholos — where merchants were required to test their measuring devices against official standards.
Length
Greek measures of length were based on the relative lengths of body parts, such as the foot and finger segment. The specific values assigned to these units varied according to location and epoch (for example, in
Aegina a foot or
pous was approximately 13 inches or 333mm, whereas in
Athens (Attica) it was about 11.6 inches or 296mm). The relative proportions, however, were generally the same throughout the Greek world.
Units derived from the
dactylos (plural:
dactyloi):
» :
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