View source for Ancient Greek units of measurement

{{Short description|System of measurement used in Ancient Greece}}'''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''.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}} 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 BC, Athens had a central depository of official weights and measures, the ''[[Prytaneion#Tholos.2C Athens|Tholos]]'', where merchants were required to test their measuring devices against official standards.{{citation needed|date=December 2011}}

== Length ==
Some Greek measures of length were named after parts of the body, such as the {{lang|grc|δάκτυλος}} (''daktylos'', plural: {{lang|grc|δάκτυλοι}} ''daktyloi'') or finger (having the size of a thumb), and the {{lang|grc|πούς}} (''[[pous]]'', plural: {{lang|grc|πόδες}} ''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 {{convert|333|mm|abbr=on}}, whereas in [[Athens]] (Attica) it was about {{convert|296|mm|abbr=on}}),<ref name=measures/> but the relative proportions were generally the same.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Smaller units of length
|-
! Unit
! Greek name
! Equal to
! Modern equivalent
! Description
|-
| daktylos
| {{lang|grc|δάκτυλος}}
|
|align="right" |{{convert|19.3|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| finger
|-
| kondylos
| {{lang|grc|κόνδυλος}}
|align="right" | 2 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|38.5|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| knuckle
|-
| palaistē or dōron
| {{lang|grc|παλαιστή}}, {{lang|grc|δῶρον}}
|align="right" | 4 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|77.1|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| palm
|-
| dichas or hēmipodion
| {{lang|grc|διχάς}}, {{lang|grc|ἡμιπόδιον}}
|align="right" | 8 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|154.1|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| half foot
|-
| lichas
| {{lang|grc|λιχάς}}
|align="right" | 10 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|192.6|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| distance from thumb-tip to tip of outstretched index finger<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sizes.com/units/lichas.htm|title=What is the unit called a lichas?|website=www.sizes.com}}</ref>
|-
| orthodōron
| {{lang|grc|ὀρθόδωρον}}
|align="right" | 11 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|211.9|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| straight hand's width
|-
| spithamē
| {{lang|grc|σπιθαμή}}
|align="right" | 12 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|231.2|mm|in|abbr=on}}
|span of all fingers
|-
| pous
| {{lang|grc|πούς}}
|align="right" | 16 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|308.2|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| [[Foot (unit)|foot]]
|-
| pygmē
| {{lang|grc|πυγμή}}
|align="right" | 18 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|346.8|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| forearm
|-
| pygōn
| {{lang|grc|πυγών}}
|align="right" | 20 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|385.3|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| distance from elbow to fist
|-
| pēchys
| {{lang|grc|πῆχυς}}
|align="right" | 24 daktyloi
|align="right" |{{convert|462.3|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| [[cubit]]
|-
| colspan=5 | {{small|Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).<ref name=smith/> Metric equivalents are approximate.}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+'''Smaller units derived from the daktylos'''
!
!daktylos
!kondylos
!doron
!dichas
!lichas
!orthodoron
!spithame
!pous
!pygme
!pygon
!pechus
!royal pechus
|-
!daktylos
|1
|{{frac|2}}
|{{frac|4}}
|{{frac|8}}
|{{frac|10}}
|{{frac|11}}
|{{frac|12}}
|{{frac|16}}
|{{frac|18}}
|{{frac|20}}
|{{frac|24}}
|{{frac|27}}
|-
!kondylos
|2
|1
|{{frac|2}}
|{{frac|4}}
|{{frac|5}}
|{{frac|2|11}}
|{{frac|6}}
|{{frac|8}}
|{{frac|9}}
|{{frac|10}}
|{{frac|12}}
|{{frac|2|27}}
|-
!doron
|4
|2
|1
|{{frac|2}}
|{{frac|2|5}}
|{{frac|4|11}}
|{{frac|3}}
|{{frac|4}}
|{{frac|2|9}}
|{{frac|5}}
|{{frac|6}}
|{{frac|4|27}}
|-
!dichas
|8
|4
|2
|1
|{{frac|4|5}}
|{{frac|8|11}}
|{{frac|2|3}}
|{{frac|2}}
|{{frac|4|9}}
|{{frac|2|5}}
|{{frac|3}}
|{{frac|8|27}}
|-
!lichas
|10
|5
|{{frac|2|1|2}}
|{{frac|1|1|4}}
|1
|{{frac|10|11}}
|{{frac|5|6}}
|{{frac|5|8}}
|{{frac|5|9}}
|{{frac|2}}
|{{frac|5|12}}
|{{frac|10|27}}
|-
!orthodoron
|11
|{{frac|5|1|2}}
|{{frac|2|3|4}}
|{{frac|1|3|8}}
|{{frac|1|1|10}}
|1
|{{frac|11|12}}
|{{frac|11|16}}
|{{frac|11|18}}
|{{frac|11|20}}
|{{frac|11|24}}
|{{frac|11|27}}
|-
!spithame
|12
|6
|3
|{{frac|1|1|2}}
|{{frac|1|1|5}}
|{{frac|1|1|11}}
|1
|{{frac|3|4}}
|{{frac|2|3}}
|{{frac|3|5}}
|{{frac|2}}
|{{frac|4|9}}
|-
!pous
|16
|8
|4
|2
|{{frac|1|3|5}}
|{{frac|1|5|11}}
|{{frac|1|1|3}}
|1
|{{frac|8|9}}
|{{frac|4|5}}
|{{frac|2|3}}
|{{frac|16|27}}
|-
!pygme
|18
|9
|{{frac|4|1|2}}
|{{frac|2|1|4}}
|{{frac|1|4|5}}
|{{frac|1|7|11}}
|{{frac|1|1|2}}
|{{frac|1|1|8}}
|1
|{{frac|9|10}}
|{{frac|3|4}}
|{{frac|2|3}}
|-
!pygon
|20
|10
|5
|{{frac|2|1|2}}
|2
|{{frac|1|9|11}}
|{{frac|1|2|3}}
|{{frac|1|1|4}}
|{{frac|1|1|9}}
|1
|{{frac|5|6}}
|{{frac|20|27}}
|-
!pechus
|24
|12
|6
|3
|{{frac|2|2|5}}
|{{frac|2|2|11}}
|2
|{{frac|1|1|2}}
|{{frac|1|1|3}}
|{{frac|1|1|5}}
|1
|{{frac|8|9}}
|-
!royal pechus
|27
|{{frac|13|1|2}}
|{{frac|6|3|4}}
|{{frac|3|3|8}}
|{{frac|2|7|10}}
|{{frac|2|5|11}}
|{{frac|2|1|4}}
|{{frac|1|11|16}}
|{{frac|1|1|2}}
|{{frac|1|7|20}}
|{{frac|1|1|8}}
|1
|-
|'''meters'''
|'''0.01926'''
|'''0.03853'''
|'''0.07706'''
|'''0.15411'''
|'''0.19264'''
|'''0.21191'''
|'''0.23117'''
|'''0.30823'''
|'''0.34676'''
|'''0.38529'''
|'''0.46234'''
|'''0.52014'''
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Larger units of length
|-
! Unit
! Greek name
! Equal to
! Modern equivalent
! Description
|-
| pous
| {{lang|grc|πούς}}
| 
|align="right" |{{convert|0.308|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| foot
|-
| haploun bēma<ref name=EIM/>
| {{lang|grc|ἁπλοῦν βῆμα}}
|align="right" | {{frac|2|1|2}} podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|0.77|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| step
|-
| bēma,<ref name=smith/> diploun bēma<ref name=EIM/>
| {{lang|grc|βῆμα, διπλοῦν βῆμα}}
|align="right" | 5 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|1.54|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| [[Pace (unit of length)|pace]]
|-
| orgyia
| {{lang|grc|ὄργυια}}
|align="right" | 6 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|1.85|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| [[fathom]]
|-
| kalamos, akaina or dekapous
| {{lang|grc|κάλαμος, ἄκαινα, δεκάπους}}
|align="right" | 10 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|3.08|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|10 feet
|-
| hamma
| {{lang|grc|ἅμμα}}
|align="right" | 60 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|18.5|m|yd|abbr=on}}
| knot, link of a chain
|-
| [[plethron]]
| {{lang|grc|πλέθρον}}
|align="right" | 100 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|30.8|m|yd|abbr=on}}
|100 feet
|-
| [[stadion (unit of length)|stadion]]
| {{lang|grc|στάδιον}}
|align="right" | 600 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|184.9|m|yd|abbr=on}}
| an eighth of a Roman mile
|-
| [[Diaulos (running race)|diaulos]]
| {{lang|grc|δίαυλος}}
|align="right" | 2 stadia
|align="right" |{{convert|369.9|m|yd|abbr=on}}
|double pipe
|-
| hippikon
| {{lang|grc|ἱππικόν}}
|align="right" | 4 stadia 
|align="right" |{{convert|739.7|m|yd|abbr=on}}
|length of a [[hippodrome]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://books.openedition.org/efa/6487|title=Les hippodromes et les concours hippiques dans la grèce antique|first=Werner|last=Petermandl|chapter=On the length of the Greek hippodrome|series=Suppléments du BCH|editor1-first=Jean-Charles|editor1-last=Moretti|editor2-first=Panos|editor2-last=Valavanis|date=November 19, 2020|publisher=École française d’Athènes|pages=133–144|isbn=9782869584662|via=OpenEdition Books}}</ref>
|-
| milion
| {{lang|grc|μίλιον}}
|align="right" | 8 stadia 
|align="right" |{{convert|1.479|km|yd|abbr=on}}
|[[Mile#Roman mile|Roman mile]]
|-
| [[Dolichos (running race)|dolichos]]<ref name=EIM/>
| {{lang|grc|δόλιχος}}
|align="right" | 12 stadia
|align="right" |{{convert|2.219|km|mi|abbr=on}}
|long race
|-
| [[parasang]]es, or league<ref name="XenophonAnabasis">Xenophon, ''Anabasis''. ca 400 B.C.</ref>
| {{lang|grc|παρασάγγης}}
|align="right" | 30 stadia 
|align="right" |{{convert|5.548|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| adopted from [[Persia]]<ref name=EIM/>
|-
| [[schoenus|schoinos]]
| {{lang|grc|σχοινός}}
|align="right" | 40 stadia
|align="right" |{{convert|7.397|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| adopted from [[Egypt]]<ref name=EIM/>
|-
| stage<ref name="XenophonAnabasis" />
| 
|align="right" | 160 stadia
|align="right" |{{convert|29.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| 
|-
| colspan=5 | {{small|Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).<ref name=smith/> Metric equivalents are approximate.}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Larger units derived from the pous
!
!pous
!bema haplun
!bema diplun
!orguia
!akaina
!hamma
!plethron
!stadion
|-
!pous
|1
|{{frac|2|5}}
|{{frac|5}}
|{{frac|6}}
|{{frac|10}}
|{{frac|60}}
|{{frac|100}}
|{{frac|600}}
|-
!bema haplun
|{{frac|2|1|2}}
|1
|{{frac|2}}
|{{frac|5|12}}
|{{frac|4}}
|{{frac|24}}
|{{frac|40}}
|{{frac|240}}
|-
!bema diplun
|5
|2
|1
|{{frac|5|6}}
|{{frac|2}}
|{{frac|12}}
|{{frac|20}}
|{{frac|120}}
|-
!orguia
|6
|{{frac|2|2|5}}
|{{frac|1|1|5}}
|1
|{{frac|3|5}}
|{{frac|10}}
|{{frac|3|50}}
|{{frac|100}}
|-
!akaina
|10
|4
|2
|{{frac|1|2|3}}
|1
|{{frac|6}}
|{{frac|10}}
|{{frac|60}}
|-
!hamma
|60
|24
|12
|10
|6
|1
|{{frac|3|5}}
|{{frac|10}}
|-
!plethron
|100
|40
|20
|{{frac|16|2|3}}
|10
|{{frac|1|2|3}}
|1
|{{frac|6}}
|-
!stadion
|600
|240
|120
|100
|60
|10
|6
|1
|-
|'''meters'''
|'''0.30823'''
|'''0.77057'''
|'''1.54115'''
|'''1.8494'''
|'''3.0823'''
|'''18.4938'''
|'''30.823'''
|'''184.94'''
|}
{{-}}

== Area ==

The ordinary units used for land measurement were:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+ Units of surface measurement
|-
! Unit
! Greek name
! Equal to
! Modern equivalent
! Description
|-
| pous
| {{lang|grc|πούς}}
| 
|align="right" |{{convert|950|cm2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| square foot
|-
| hexapodēs
| {{lang|grc|ἑξαπόδης}}
|align="right" | 36 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|3.42|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| square six-foot
|-
| akaina
| {{lang|grc|ἄκαινα}}
|align="right" | 100 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|9.50|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| rod
|-
| hēmiektos
| {{lang|grc|ἡμίεκτος}}
|align="right" | {{frac|833|1|3}} podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|79.2|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| half a sixth
|-
| hektos
| {{lang|grc|ἕκτος}}
|align="right" | {{frac|1,666|2|3}} podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|158.3|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| a sixth of a plethron
|-
| aroura
| {{lang|grc|ἄρουρα}}
|align="right" | 2,500 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|237.5|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
| field
|- 
| plethron
| {{lang|grc|πλέθρον}}
|align="right" | 10,000 podes 
|align="right" |{{convert|950|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
|
|-
| colspan=5 style= "font-size:smaller" | Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).<ref name=smith/> Metric equivalents are approximate.
|}{{-}}

==Volume==
{| style="float: right; border: 1px solid #BBB; margin: .46em 0 0 .2em;"
|- style="font-size: 90%;"
| valign="top" |[[File:Hoplitodromia Louvre CA214.jpg|200px]]<!--
  --><br /> [[Neck amphora]] depicting an athlete<br>running the [[hoplitodromos]] by the Berlin<br>Painter, {{c.|480 BC}}, Louvre.
|}
Greeks measured volume according to either solids or liquids, 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.<ref name=measures/> The basic unit for both solid and liquid measures was the {{lang|grc|κύαθος}} (kyathos, plural: kyathoi).<ref name=EIM/>

The Attic liquid measures were:

{| class="wikitable" style="float: center; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Attic measures of liquid capacity
! Unit
! Greek name
! Equal to
! Modern equivalent
! Description
|- 
| kochliarion
| {{lang|grc|κοχλιάριον}}
| 
|align="right" |{{convert|4.5|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|spoon
|-
| chēmē
| {{lang|grc|χήμη}}
|align="right" |2 kochliaria
| align="right" |{{convert|9.1|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
| a [[Shot_glass#Jigger|measure]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=am2RYwGZgowC&q=%CF%87%CE%AE%CE%BC%CE%B7+measure|title=Outlines of Sociology|first=Elster F.|last=Ward|date=February 2, 1899|via=Google Books}}</ref>
|-
| mystron
| {{lang|grc|μύστρον}}
|align="right" |{{frac|2|1|2}} kochliaria
| align="right" |{{convert|11.4|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''ligula''
|-
| konchē
| {{lang|grc|κόγχη}}
|align="right" |5 kochliaria
| align="right" |{{convert|22.7|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|shell-full
|-
| kyathos
| {{lang|grc|κύαθος}}
|align="right" | 10 kochliaria
|  align="right" |{{convert|45.5|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''cyathus''
|-
| oxybaphon
| {{lang|grc|ὀξυβαφον}}
|align="right" |{{frac|1|1|2}} kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|68.2|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''acetabulum''
|-
| tetarton,<ref name=smith/> hēmikotylē<ref name=EIM/>
| {{lang|grc|τέταρτον, ἡμικοτύλη}}
|align="right" |3 kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|136.4|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''quartarius''
|-
| kotylē, tryblion or hēmina
| {{lang|grc|κοτύλη, τρύβλιον, ἡμίνα}}
|align="right" |6 kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|272.8|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''cotyla'' or ''hemina''
|-
| xestēs
| {{lang|grc|ξέστης}}
|align="right" |12 kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|545.5|mL|USpt imppt|3|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''sextarius''
|-
| chous
| {{lang|grc|χοῦς}}
| align="right" |72 kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|3.27|L|USpt imppt|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''congius''
|-
| keramion
| {{lang|grc|κεράμιον}}
| align="right" |8 choes
| align="right" |{{convert|26.2|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''amphora quadrantal''
|-
| [[metretes|metrētēs]]
| {{lang|grc|μετρητής}}
| align="right" |12 choes
| align="right" |{{convert|39.3|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|amphora
|-
| colspan=5 style= "font-size:smaller" | Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).<ref name=smith/> Metric equivalents are approximate.
|}{{-}}
[[File:BritLibAddMS35166ApocalypseUnkFolio3SealBlackHorse.jpg|thumb|Illustration of the [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse|Third Horseman of the Apocalypse]] holding a set of scales; in the [[Book of Revelation]] he proclaims "A ''choinix'' of [[wheat]] for a [[denarius]], and three ''choinikes'' of [[barley]] for a denarius;" indicating high food prices during a [[famine]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mounce|first1=Robert H.|title=The Book of Revelation|date=2006|publisher=Eerdmans|location=Grand Rapids, Mich. [u.a.]|isbn=9780802825377|page=140|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=06VR1JzzLNsC&q=interpretation%20of%20revelation&pg=PA140|access-date=2015-04-10}}</ref>
]]
and the Attic dry measures of capacity were:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|+Attic measures of dry capacity
! Unit
! Greek name
! Equal to
! Modern equivalent
! Description
|- 
| kochliarion
| {{lang|grc|κοχλιάριον}}
| 
|align="right" |{{convert|4.5|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|
|-
| kyathos
| {{lang|grc|κύαθος}}
|align="right" | 10 kochliaria
|  align="right" |{{convert|45.5|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''cyathus''
|-
| oxybaphon
| {{lang|grc|ὀξυβαφον}}
|align="right" |{{frac|1|1|2}} kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|68.2|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''acetabulum''
|-
| kotylē or hēmina
| {{lang|grc|κοτύλη, ἡμίνα}}
|align="right" |6 kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|272.8|mL|USoz impoz|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''cotyla'' or ''hemina'' 
|-
| xestēs
| {{lang|grc|ξέστης}}
|align="right" |12 kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|545.5|mL|USpt imppt|3|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''sextarius''
|-
| choinix
| {{lang|grc|χοῖνιξ}}
| align="right" |24 kyathoi
| align="right" |{{convert|1.09|L|USpt imppt|abbr=on}}
|
|-
| hēmiekton
| {{lang|grc|ἡμίεκτον}}
|align="right" | 4 choinikes
| align="right" |{{convert|4.36|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''semimodius''
|-
| hekteus
| {{lang|grc|ἑκτεύς}}
|align="right" | 8 choinikes
| align="right" |{{convert|8.73|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|Roman ''modius''
|-
| [[medimnos]]
| μέδιμνος
|align="right" | 48 choinikes
| align="right" |{{convert|52.4|L|USgal impgal|abbr=on}}
|
|-
| colspan=5 style= "font-size:smaller" | Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).<ref name=smith/> Metric equivalents are approximate.
|}{{-}}

== Currency ==

The basic unit of Athenian currency was the '''obol''', weighing approximately 0.72 grams of silver:<ref>British Museum Catalogue 11 - Attica Megaris Aegina</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tulane.edu/~august/H310/handouts/Coinage.htm |title=History 310: Greek Coinage and Measures |access-date=July 31, 2005 |archive-date=May 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504125619/http://www.tulane.edu/~august/H310/handouts/Coinage.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
[[File:SNGCop 053.jpg|thumb|200px|An obol, Attica, Athens, weighing 0.69g After 449 BC]]

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
! Unit
! Greek name
! Equivalent
! Weight
|-
| obol or [[obolus]]
| {{lang|grc|ὀβολός}}
| {{frac|6}} drachma, 4 tetartemorions
| {{convert|0.72|g|ozt|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Ancient drachma|drachma]]
| {{lang|grc|δραχμή}}
| 6 obols
| {{convert|4.3|g|ozt|abbr=on}}
|-
| mina
| {{lang|grc|μνᾶ}}
| 100 drachmae
| 
|-
| [[Attic talent|talent]]
|{{lang|grc|τάλαντον}}
| 60 minae
| 
|}

==Mass==
Mass is 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 mass and a currency. Greek masses similarly bear a nominal resemblance to Greek currency yet the origin of the Greek standards of weights is often disputed.<ref name=weights/> 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:<ref name=weights/>
::{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
! Unit
! Greek name
! Equivalent
! Metric Equivalent
! Aeginetic standard
|-
| obol or [[obolus]]
| {{lang|grc|ὀβολός}} <ref>{{LSJ|o)bolo/s|ὀβολός|cite}}</ref>
|
| {{convert|0.72|g|oz|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|1.05|g|oz|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[dram (unit)|drachma]]
| {{lang|grc|δραχμή}} <ref>{{LSJ|draxmh/|δραχμή|cite}}</ref>
| 6 obols
| {{convert|4.31|g|oz|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|6.3|g|oz|abbr=on}}
|-
| mina
| {{lang|grc|μνᾶ}} <ref>{{LSJ|mna=|μνᾶ|cite}}</ref>
| 100 drachmae
| {{convert|431|g|oz|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|630|g|oz|abbr=on}}
|-
| talent
|{{lang|grc|τάλαντον}} <ref>{{LSJ|ta/lanton|τάλαντον|cite}}</ref>
| 60 minae
| {{convert|25.86|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| {{convert|37.8|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
|}

== Time ==

Athenians measured the day by [[sundial]]s 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]] Eponymous 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 not fit exactly into the length of the solar year. Thus, if not corrected, the same month would migrate slowly into different seasons of the year. The Athenian year was divided into 12 months, with one additional month (''Poseidon deuterons'', thirty days) being inserted between the sixth and seventh months every second year. Even with this [[Intercalation (timekeeping)|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, circa 275&nbsp;BC.

[[File:Elgin marbles frieze.jpg|right|thumb|300px|This section of a frieze from the [[Elgin Marbles]] shows a cavalry procession that was part of the quadrennial Greater Panathenaic festival, always held in the month Hekatombion.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
! Month
! Greek name
! Gregorian equivalent
|-
| Hecatombaeon
| {{lang|grc|Ἑκατομβαιών}}
| June–July
|-
| Metageitnion
| {{lang|grc|Μεταγειτνιών}}
| July–August
|-
| Boedromion
| {{lang|grc|Βοηδρομιών}}
| August–September
|-
| Pyanepsion
| {{lang|grc|Πυανεψιών}}
| September–October
|-
| Maemacterion
| {{lang|grc|Μαιμακτηριών}}
| October–November
|-
| Poseideon
| {{lang|grc|Ποσειδεών}}
| November–December
|-
| Gamelion
| {{lang|grc|Γαμηλιών}}
| December–January
|-
| Anthesterion
| {{lang|grc|Ἀνθεστηριών}}
| January–February
|-
| Elaphebolion
| {{lang|grc|Ἐλαφηβολιών}}
| February–March
|-
| Munychion
| {{lang|grc|Μουνυχιών}}
| March–April
|-
| Thargelion
| {{lang|grc|Θαργηλιών}}
| April–May
|-
| Scirophorion
| {{lang|grc|Σκιροφοριών}}
| May–June
|}{{-}}

==See also==
* [[Ancient Roman units of measurement]]
* [[Byzantine units of measurement]]
* [[Level staff]]

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=EIM>EIM:Metrology:History. Hellenic Institute of Metrology (EIM). [https://web.archive.org/web/20090413022319/http://www.eim.org.gr/html/english/metrology/history/greece.html Archived 13 April 2009].</ref>

<!-- Unused citation <ref name=hutton>Hutton, Charles (1795) [https://books.google.com/books?id=Nn9RAAAAYAAJ ''A philosophical and mathematical dictionary, containing an explanation of the terms, and an account of the several subjects, comprised under the heads mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy both natural and experimental; with an historical account of the rise, progress and present state of these sciences; also memoirs of the lives and writings of the most eminent authors, both ancient and modern, who by their discoveries or improvements have contributed to the advancement of them''] 1st ed. London: for J. Johnson Volume 2 p.187</ref>-->

<ref name=measures>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Measures|encyclopedia=The Oxford Classical Dictionary|year=2003}}</ref>

<ref name=smith>Smith, Sir William; Charles Anthon (1851) [https://books.google.com/books?id=uUPhhcdSACQC ''A new classical dictionary of Greek and Roman biography, mythology, and geography partly based upon the Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology''] New York: Harper & Bros. Tables, pp. 1024–30</ref>

<ref name=weights>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Weights|encyclopedia=The Oxford Classical Dictionary|year=2003}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|title=History 310: Greek Coinage and Measures |work=History/Classics 310 |url=http://www.tulane.edu/~august/H310/handouts/Coinage.htm |access-date=December 15, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408035420/http://www.tulane.edu/~august/H310/handouts/Coinage.htm |archive-date=April 8, 2005 }}
* {{cite web |author=Porter, John |title=Greek and Roman Weights, Measures and Currency |url=http://homepage.usask.ca/~jrp638/CourseNotes/weightsmeasures.html | access-date=July 26, 2007 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070806055753/http://homepage.usask.ca/~jrp638/CourseNotes/weightsmeasures.html| archive-date= 6 August 2007 | url-status= live}}
*[http://www.imperialtometric.com/AncientGreekUnits.htm Online Conversion of Ancient Greek Units]
{{Hellenic measurement}}
{{Systems of measurement}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greek}}
[[Category:Ancient Greek units of measurement| ]]
[[Category:Obsolete units of measurement]]
[[Category:Human-based units of measurement]]