Persian units of measurement
An official system of weights and measures was establishedScript error: No such module "Unsubst". in the ancient Persian Empire under the Achaemenid dynasty (550-350 BCE). The shekel and mina ("profane" or "sacred") were units of both weight and volume. A shekel or mina weight was equal to the weight of that volume of water. The talent was a measure of weight used for large amounts of coinage. Some related units were used in Persia in the 19th century, and are still used in contemporary Iran.
Ancient Persian units
Length
| Persian unit | Persian name | Relation to previous unit | Metric Value | Imperial Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| digit finger |
Script error: No such module "Lang". (angosht)[1] | ≈ 20 mmScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 0.8 in | |
| hand | dva | 5 aiwas | ≈ 100 mmScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 4 in |
| foot | trayas | 3 dva | ≈ 300 mmScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 1 foot |
| four-hands | remen | 4 dva | ≈ 400 mmScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 16 in |
| cubit (five-hands) | pank'a dva | 5 dva | ≈ 500 mmScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 20 in |
| great cubit (six-hands) | (k)swacsh dva | 6 dva | ≈ 600 mmScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 2 ft |
| pace | pank'a | 5 trayas | ≈ 1.5 mScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 5 ftScript error: No such module "Unsubst". |
| ten-foot | daca trayas | 2 pank'a | ≈ 3 mScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 10 ft |
| hundred-foot | chebel | 8 daca trayas | ≈ 24 mScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 80 ft |
| league, the distance a horse could walk in one hour.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". | parasang | 250 chebel | ≈ 6 kmScript error: No such module "Unsubst". | ≈ 3.75 milesScript error: No such module "Unsubst". |
| mansion, one day's march on the Royal Road. | (Greek stathmos) | 4 or 5 parasang | ≈ 24–30 km | ≈ 14–18 miles |
| Asparsa | Asparsa[2][3][4] | ≈ 187–195 m and = 360 cubits |
Volume
The shekel and mina ("profane" or "sacred") were units of both weight and volume. A shekel or mina weight was equal to the weight of that volume of water. Note that the values given for the mina do not match the definitions.
- 1 shekel = 8.3 ml (approximately 1 cubic aiwas).
- 1 profane mina = 50 shekel = 500 ml (approximately 27 cubic aiwas).
- 1 sacred mina = 60 shekel = 600 ml (approximately 1 cubic dva).
- 1 talent (volume) = 60 profane mina = 25 liters (approximately 1 cubic trayas).
Weight
The talent was a measure of weight used for large amounts of coinage (bullion, bulk coin), rather than an individual coin. Seven Babylonian talents equalled ten Attic talents, according to a list of the revenues of Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II of Persia) recorded in Herodotus.[5][6]
𐎣𐎼𐏁 (karša) or 𐎣𐎼𐏁𐎹𐎠 (karšayā) is a unit of weight equal to 10 Babylonian shekels or <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄6 Babylonian mina weighing approximately Template:Cvt.[7]
Units used in modern Persia (Iran)
Some related units were used in Persia in the 19th century, and are still used in contemporary Iran.
Length
- 1 arsani or ulna = 52-64 cm.
- 1 arish = Template:Convert[8]
- 1 chebel = 40 arsani = 21-25 meters or 23-30 yards.
- 1 farsang (parasang) = 6.23 km in 19th century Persia.
- 1 farsang = 10 kilometers in modern Iran and Turkey.
Volume
- 1 chenica = 1.32 liters.
References
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- ↑ Herodotus, Book III, 90-96
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