Greek units of measurement

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
See also:
adoption of the metric system in 1836. Metric units were finally made legally compulsory in 1922.[1][2]

Units used before the metric system

Length

One piki varied from 0.640 m to 0.670 m.[1]

1 pic was equal to 1 piki.[1][2]

The small piki of Constantinople (also known as the endeze) was equal to 0.648 m[1][2][3]

The large piki of Constantinople (also known as the arsin) was equal to 0.669 m[1][2][3]

A masonry piki (also known as the meimar zire) was equal to 0.750 m.[1][2][3]

Two types of piki were used to measure cloth. The measurement for silks was equal to 25 inches, and for linen and woolens it was equal to 27 inches.[4] The piki was sometimes regarded as equal to a metre and a kilometre was called a stadion.[4]

The metre was introduced in a royal decree of 1836, and was originally subdivided in 10 palms, 100 digits and 1000 lines.[3]

Mass

Units used to measure mass were:[1]

1 dramme = 3.2 g

1 livre (also known as a pound[2]) (Venetian) = 450 g

1 mina = 1.5 kg

1 royal mine 1.5 kg

1 oka = 0.85331 royal mine = 1.280 kg[1][2][3] =

1 stater = 56.32 kg

1 talanton = 150 kg.

One cantaro was equal to 44 oke, but the value varied from 112 to 128 lb depending on locality.[4][3] One tseki was 176 oka in Istanbul and 136 oka in Thessaloniki.[3]

Area

One stremma was equal to 1000 m2. The hectare varied from 900 - 2500 m2 depending on region.[3]

Capacity

Units used to measure capacity include:[1][2]

1

litres

1 baril = 74.236 litres.

A staro was equal to 3 bachels, and was also equal to 2.54835 bushels.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 8.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1
    .
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Nikolantonakis, K (September 6–9, 2006), Weights and measures: The Greek efforts to integrate the metric system, Cracow, Poland: The Global and the Local: The History of Science and the Cultural Integration of Europe. Proceedings of the 2nd ICESHS, pp. 457–459
  4. ^ a b c d Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 39.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greek_units_of_measurement&oldid=1171654542"