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The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3 (of 6) cover

The Natural History of Pliny, Volume 3 (of 6)

Chapter 2: GREEK AND ROMAN MONEY, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES MENTIONED BY PLINY.
By the Elder Pliny
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The work assembles systematic observations on animals, insects, and trees, combining natural history with practical notes. It surveys insect forms and habits, including bees, silk‑producing worms, spiders, and parasitic species, and discusses reproduction, classification, diseases, and useful products like honey and silk. It then examines animal anatomy in detail, limb by limb and organ by organ, comparing organs, vital functions, and bodily peculiarities across species. Later sections catalogue trees and exotic plants, describing aromatic gums, spices, frankincense, myrrh, and methods for producing and testing unguents and perfumes, and noting their uses and regions of origin.

GREEK AND ROMAN MONEY, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES MENTIONED BY PLINY.

Acetabulum. R 1⁄8 of a Sextarius, .1238 pint.
Actus. R 120 Pedes or Roman feet.
Amphora. R 48 Sextarii, 5 gall. 7.577 pints.
As. R 21⁄8 farthings. Copper.
As. R weight See “Libra.”
Concha, Smaller, G and R .0412 pint.
Concha, Larger, G and R .1238 pint.
Congius. R 5.9471 pints.
Cubitus. G 1 foot 6.2016 inches.
Cubitus. R 1 foot 5.4744 inches.
Culeus. R 20 Amphoræ, 118 gall. 7.546 pints.
Cyathus. G and R 1⁄12 of a Sextarius, .0825 pint.
Denarius. R 16 Asses, 81⁄2 pence. Silver.
Denarius. R. weight 52.5 to 60 grains.
Digitus, or Finger. R 1⁄16 of a Pes, .7281 inch.
Drachma. G .63 grains.
Hemina. R See “Semisextarius.”
Jugerum. R 240 Pedes or Roman feet by 120.
Libra, or Pound. R 113⁄4 ounces 60.45 grains, avoird.
Mina.1 G 15 ounces 83.75 grains, avoird.
Modius. R. [dry measure] 1⁄3 of an Amphora, 1 gall. 7.8576 pints.
Obolus, G 11⁄2 pence + .5 farthings. Silver.
Obolus. G. weight 10.5 grains.
Palmus, or Handbreadth. R 2.9214 inches.
Passus, or Pace.2 R 5 Roman feet, 4 ft. 10.248 inches.
Pes, or Foot. R 12 Unciæ, 11.6496 inches.
Pollex, or Thumb. R See “Uncia” [lineal measure].
Quadrans. R .53125 farthings. Copper.
Quadrans. R weight 3 Unciæ, 23⁄4 ounces 97.21 grs.
Quadrantal. R See “Amphora.”
Quartarius. R 1⁄4 of a Sextarius, .2477 pint.
Quinarius. R 1⁄2 of a Denarius.
Scripulum, or Scruple. R 1⁄24 of an Uncia, 18.06 grains.
Semisextarius. R 1⁄2 of a Sextarius.
Sestertius. R 1⁄4 of a Denarius. Brass or Silver.
Sestertium. R 1000 Sestertii, £7 16s. 3d.
Sextarius. R 1⁄6 of a Congius, .9911 pint.
Spithama, or Span. G 9.1008 inches.
Stadium. G and R 1⁄8 of a Roman mile, 606 feet 9 in.
Teruncius. R See “Quadrans” [weight & money].
Ulna, or Ell. R 6 feet, 81 inch.
Uncia, or Inch. R 1⁄12 of a Pes, .9708 inch.
Uncia, or Ounce. R 1⁄12 of a Libra. 433.666 grs.
Urna. R 1⁄2 of an Amphora.
Victoriatus. R See “Quinarius.”

The Schœnus, an Egyptian and Persian lineal measure, varied considerably; being sometimes thirty, and sometimes forty Stadia. See B. v. c. 11, B. vi. c. 30, and B. xii. c. 30.

The Attic Talent, as a weight, was equal to 56lb. 151⁄4oz. 100.32 grains. The Commercial Talent was 85lb. 21⁄2oz. 70.7 grs. The Silver Attic, or Great Talent, was in value £343 15s. or, according to Pollux, £406 5s. The Gold, or Sicilian Talent, was equal in weight to six Attic Drachmæ, or about 3⁄4 oz. and 71 grs. The Egyptian Talent, as a measure of weight, was equal to about twice the Attic Talent.