Ancient Roman units of measurement

Bronzemodiusmeasure (4th century AD) with inscription acknowledging Imperial regulation of weights and measures

Theunits of measurement ofancient Romewere generally consistent and well documented.

Length

Roman milestone in modern Austria (AD 201), indicating a distance of 28 Roman miles (~41 km) toTeurnia.

The basic unit of Roman linear measurement was thepes(plural:pedes) orRoman foot.Investigation of its relation to theEnglish footgoes back at least to 1647, whenJohn Greavespublished hisDiscourse on the Romane foot.Greaves visited Rome in 1639, and measured, among other things, the foot measure on the tomb of Titus Statilius Aper, that on the statue of Cossutius formerly in the gardens ofAngelo Colocci,thecongiusofVespasianpreviously measured byVillalpandus,a number of brass measuring-rods found in the ruins of Rome, the paving-stones of thePantheonand many other ancient Roman buildings, and the distance between the milestones on theAppian Way.He concluded that the Cossutian foot was the "true" Roman foot, and reported these values compared to the iron standard of the English foot in theGuildhallin London

Values of the ancient Roman foot determined by Greaves in 1639

Source	Reported value in English feet	Metric equivalent
Foot on the statue of Cossutius	0.967	295 mm
Foot on the monument of Statilius	0.972	296 mm
Foot ofVillalpandus,derived fromCongius of Vespasian	0.986	301 mm

William Smith(1851) gives a value of 0.9708 English feet, or about 295.9 mm.An accepted modern value is 296 mm.That foot is also called thepes monetalisto distinguish it from thepes Drusianus(about 333 or 335 mm) sometimes used in some provinces, particularlyGermania Inferior.

The Roman foot was sub-divided either like the Greekpousinto 16digitior fingers; or into 12unciaeor inches.Frontinuswrites in the 1st century AD that thedigituswas used inCampaniaand most parts of Italy.The principal Roman units of length were:

Ancient Roman units of length

Roman unit	English name	Equal to	Metric equivalent	Imperial equivalent	Notes
digitus	finger	1⁄16pes	18.5 mm	0.728 in 0.0607 ft
uncia pollex	inch thumb	1⁄12pes	24.6 mm	0.971 in 0.0809 ft
palmus(minor)	palm	1⁄4pes	74 mm	0.243 ft
palmus maior	palm length (lit."greater palm" )	3⁄4pes	222 mm	0.728 ft	in late times
pes (plural: pedes)	(Roman)foot	1 pes	296 mm	0.971 ft	sometimes distinguished as thepes monetalis
palmipes	foot and a palm	1+1⁄4pedes	370 mm	1.214 ft
cubitum	cubit	1+1⁄2pedes	444 mm	1.456 ft
gradus pes sestertius	step	2+1⁄2pedes	0.74 m	2.427 ft
passus	pace	5 pedes	1.48 m	4.854 ft
decempeda pertica	perch	10 pedes	2.96 m	9.708 ft
actus	path, track	120 pedes	35.5 m	116.496 ft	24 passusor12decembeda
stadium	stade	625 pedes	185 m	607.14 ft	600Greek feet or 125 passus or1⁄8mille
mille passus mille passuum	(Roman)mile	5,000 pedes	1.48 km	4,854 ft 0.919mi	1000 passus or 8 stadia
leuga leuca	(Gallic)league	7,500 pedes	2.22 km	7,281 ft 1.379mi
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). English and metric equivalents are approximate, converted at 1 pes = 0.9708 English feet and 296 mm respectively.

Other units include theschoenus(from the Greek for "rushrope ") used for the distances inIsidore of Charax'sParthian Stations(where it had a value around 5 km or 3 miles)and in the name of theNubianland ofTriacontaschoenusbetween theFirstandSecond Cataractson theNile(where it had a value closer to10.5 km or6+1⁄2miles).

Area

The ordinary units of measurement of area were:

Ancient Roman units of area

Roman unit	English name	Equal to	Metric equivalent	Imperial equivalent	Description
pes quadratus	square foot	1 pes qu.	0.0876 m2	0.943 sq ft
scrupulumor decempeda quadrata		100 pedes qu.	8.76 m2	94.3 sq ft	the square of the standard 10-foot measuring rod
actus simplex		480 pedes qu.	42.1 m2	453 sq ft	4 × 120 pedes
uncia		2,400 pedes qu.	210 m2	2,260 sq ft
clima		3,600 pedes qu.	315 m2	3,390 sq ft	60 × 60 pedes
actus quadratus or acnua		14,400 pedes qu.	1,262 m2	13,600 sq ft	also calledarpennisinGaul
jugerum		28,800 pedes qu.	2,523 m2	27,200 sq ft 0.623 acres
heredium		2 jugera	5,047 m2	54,300 sq ft 1.248 acres
centuria		200 jugera	50.5ha	125 acres	formerly 100 jugera
saltus		800 jugera	201.9 ha	499 acres
modius			16 ha	40 acres	Medieval Latin,plural modii
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).Metric equivalents are approximate, converted at 1 pes = 296 mm.

Other units of area described byColumellain hisDe Re Rusticainclude theporcaof 180 × 30 Roman feet (about 473 m²or 5,090 sq ft) used inHispania Baeticaand the Galliccandetumorcadetumof 100 feetin the city or 150 in the country. Columella also gives uncial divisions of thejugerum,tabulated by the anonymous translator of the 1745 Millar edition as follows:

Uncial divisions of thejugerum

Roman unit	Roman square feet	Fraction of jugerum	Metric equivalent	Imperial equivalent	Description
dimidium scrupulum	50	1⁄576	4.38 m2	47.1 sq ft
scrupulum	100	1⁄288	8.76 m2	94.3 sq ft
duo scrupula	200	1⁄144	17.5 m2	188 sq ft
sextula	400	1⁄72	35.0 m2	377 sq ft
sicilicus	600	1⁄48	52.6 m2	566 sq ft
semiuncia	1,200	1⁄24	105 m2	1,130 sq ft
uncia	2,400	1⁄12	210 m2	2,260 sq ft
sextans	4,800	1⁄6	421 m2	4,530 sq ft
quadrans	7,200	1⁄4	631 m2	6,790 sq ft
triens	9,600	1⁄3	841 m2	9,050 sq ft
quincunx	12,000	5⁄12	1,051 m2	11,310 sq ft
semis	14,400	1⁄2	1,262 m2	15,380 sq ft	= actus quadratus
septunx	16,800	7⁄12	1,472 m2	15,840 sq ft
bes	19,200	2⁄3	1,682 m2	18,100 sq ft
dodrans	21,600	3⁄4	1,893 m2	20,380 sq ft
dextans	24,000	5⁄6	2,103 m2	22,640 sq ft
deunx	26,400	11⁄12	2,313 m2	24,900 sq ft
jugerum	28,800	1	2,523 m2	27,160 sq ft
Except where noted, based on Millar (1745).Metric equivalents are approximate, converted at 1 pes = 296 mm.

Volume

Both liquid and dry volume measurements were based on the sextarius. The sextarius was defined as1⁄48of a cubic foot, known as an amphora quadrantal. Using the value 296 mm (11.7 in) for the Roman foot, an amphora quadrantal can be computed at approximately 25.9 L (6.8 US gal), so a sextarius (by the same method) would theoretically measure 540.3 ml (19.02 imp fl oz; 18.27 US fl oz), which is about 95% of animperial pint(568.26125 ml).

Archaeologically, however, the evidence is not as precise. No two surviving vessels measure an identical volume, and scholarly opinion on the actual volume ranges between 500 ml (17 US fl oz)and 580 ml (20 US fl oz).

The core volume units are:

• amphora quadrantal(Roman jar) – one cubicpes(Roman foot)
• congius– a half-pescube (thus1⁄8amphora quadrantal)
• sextarius– literally1⁄6of acongius

Liquid measure

Ancient Roman liquid measures

Roman unit	Equal to	Metric	Imperial	US fluid
ligula	1⁄288congius	11.4 mL	0.401 fl oz	0.385 fl oz
cyathus	1⁄72congius	45 mL	1.58 fl oz	1.52 fl oz
acetabulum	1⁄48congius	68 mL	2.39 fl oz	2.30 fl oz
quartarius	1⁄24congius	136 mL	4.79 fl oz	4.61 fl oz
heminaor cotyla	1⁄12congius	273 mL	9.61 fl oz	9.23 fl oz
sextarius	1⁄6congius	546 mL	19.22 fl oz 0.961 pt	18.47 fl oz 1.153 pt
congius	1 congius	3.27 L	5.75 pt 0.719 gal	3.46 qt 0.864 gal
urna	4 congii	13.1 L	2.88 gal	3.46 gal
amphora quadrantal	8 congii	26.2 L	5.76 gal	6.92 gal
culeus	160 congii	524 L	115.3 gal	138.4 gal
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Modern equivalents are approximate.

Dry measure

Ancient Roman dry measures

Roman unit	Equal to	Metric	Imperial	US dry
ligula	1⁄288congius	11.4 ml	0.401 fl oz	0.0207 pt
cyathus	1⁄72congius	45 ml	1.58 fl oz	0.082 pt
acetabulum	1⁄48congius	68 ml	2.39 fl oz	0.124 pt
quartarius	1⁄24congius	136 ml	4.79 fl oz	0.247 pt
hemina or cotyla	1⁄12congius	273 ml	9.61 fl oz	0.496 pt
sextarius	1⁄6congius	546 ml	19.22 fl oz 0.961 pt	0.991 pt
semimodius	1+1⁄3congii	4.36 L	0.96 gal	0.99 gal
modius	2+2⁄3congii	8.73 L	1.92 gal	1.98 gal
modius castrensis	4 congii	12.93 L	2.84 gal	2.94 gal
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851). Modern equivalents are approximate.

Weight

A Roman steelyard weight of onedodrans,i.e.3⁄4libra

The units of weight ormasswere mostly based on factors of 12. Several of the unit names were also the names of coins during theRoman Republicand had the same fractional value of a larger base unit: libra for weight andasfor coin. Modern estimates of the libra range from 322 to 329 g (11.4 to 11.6 oz) with 5076 grains or 328.9 g (11.60 oz) an accepted figure.Theaswas reduced from 12 ounces to 2 after theFirst Punic War,to 1 during theSecond Punic War,and to half an ounce by the 131 BCLex Papiria.

The divisions of the libra were:

Uncial divisions of the libra

Roman unit	English name	Equal to	Metric equivalent	Imperial equivalent	Description
uncia	Roman ounce	1⁄12libra	27.4 g	0.967 oz	lit."a twelfth"
sescuncia or sescunx		1⁄8libra	41.1 g	1.45 oz	lit."one and one-half twelfths"
sextans		1⁄6libra	54.8 g	1.93 oz	lit."a sixth"
quadrans teruncius		1⁄4libra	82.2 g	2.90 oz	lit."a fourth" lit."triple twelfth"
triens		1⁄3libra	109.6 g	3.87 oz	lit."a third"
quincunx		5⁄12libra	137.0 g	4.83 oz	lit."five-twelfths"
semis or semissis		1⁄2libra	164.5 g	5.80 oz	lit."a half"
septunx		7⁄12libra	191.9 g	6.77 oz	lit."seven-twelfths"
bes or bessis		2⁄3libra	219.3 g	7.74 oz	lit."two [parts] of anas"
dodrans		3⁄4libra	246.7 g	8.70 oz	lit."less a fourth"
dextans		5⁄6libra	274.1 g	9.67 oz	lit."less a sixth"
deunx		11⁄12libra	301.5 g	10.64 oz	lit."less a twelfth"
libra	Roman pound libra		328.9 g	11.60 oz 0.725 lb	lit."balance"
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).Metric equivalents are approximate, converted at 1 libra = 328.9 g.

The subdivisions of the uncia were:

Subdivisions of the uncia

Roman unit	English name	Equal to	Metric equivalent	Imperial equivalent	Description
siliqua	carat	1⁄144uncia	0.19 g	2.9gr 0.0067 oz	lit."carobseed " The Greekκεράτιον(kerátion)
obolus	obolus	1⁄48uncia	0.57 g	8.8 gr 0.020 oz	lit."obol",from the Greek word for" metal spit "
scrupulum	scruple	1⁄24uncia	1.14 g	17.6 gr 0.040 oz	lit."small pebble"
semisextula or dimidia sextula		1⁄12uncia	2.28 g	35.2 gr 0.080 oz	lit."half-sixth", "little sixth"
sextula	sextula	1⁄6uncia	4.57 g	70.5 gr 0.161 oz	lit."little sixth"
sicilicus or siciliquus		1⁄4uncia	6.85 g	106 gr 0.242 oz	lit."littlesickle"
duella		1⁄3uncia	9.14 g	141 gr 0.322 oz	lit."little double [sixths]"
semuncia	half-ounce semuncia	1⁄2uncia	13.7 g	211 gr 0.483 oz	lit."half-twelfth"
uncia	Roman ounce		27.4 g	423 gr 0.967 oz	"a twelfth"
Except where noted, based on Smith (1851).Metric equivalents are approximate, converted at 1 libra = 328.9 g.

Time

Years

The complicatedRoman calendarwas replaced by theJulian calendarin 45 BC.In the Julian calendar, an ordinary year is 365 days long, and aleap yearis 366 days long. Between 45 BC and AD 1, leap years occurred at irregular intervals. Starting in AD 4, leap years occurred regularly every four years. Year numbers were rarely used; rather, the year was specified by naming theRoman consulsfor that year. (As consuls' terms latterly ran from January to December, this eventually caused January, rather than March, to be considered the start of the year.) When a year number was required, the GreekOlympiadswere used, or the count of years since the founding of Rome, "ab urbe condita"in 753 BC. In theMiddle Ages,the year numbering was changed to theAnno Dominicount, based on the supposed birth year ofJesus.

The calendar used in most of the modern world, theGregorian calendar,differs from the Julian calendar in that it skips three leap years every four centuries (i.e. 97 leap years in every 400) to more closely approximate the length of thetropical year.

Weeks

The Romans grouped days into an eight-day cycle called thenundinae,with every eighth day being a market day.

Independent of thenundinae,astrologerskept a seven-day cycle called ahebdomaswhere each day corresponded to one of the sevenclassical planets,with the first day of the week beingSaturn-day,followed bySun-day,Moon-day,Mars-day,Mercury-day,Jupiter-day,and lastlyVenus-day.Each astrological day was reckoned to begin at sunrise. TheJewsalso used a seven-day week, which began Saturday evening. The seventh day of the week they calledSabbath;the other days they numbered rather than named, except for Friday, which could be called either the Parasceve or the sixth day. Each Jewish day begins at sunset.Christiansfollowed the Jewish seven-day week, except that they commonly called the first day of the week theDominica,or theLord's day.In 321,Constantine the Greatgave his subjects every Sunday off in honor of his family'stutelarydeity, theUnconquered Sun,thus cementing the seven-day week into Roman civil society.

Hours

Main article:Roman timekeeping

The Romans divided the daytime into twelvehoraeorhoursstarting at sunrise and ending at sunset. The night was divided into four watches. The duration of these hours varied with seasons; in the winter, when the daylight period was shorter, its 12 hours were correspondingly shorter and its four watches were correspondingly longer.

Astrologers divided thesolar dayinto 24 equal hours, and these astrological hours became the basis for medievalclocksand our modern 24-hourmean solar day.

Although the division of hours intominutesandsecondsdid not occur until the Middle Ages,Classicalastrologers had aminutaequal to1⁄60of a day (24 modern minutes), asecundaequal to1⁄3600of a day (24 modern seconds), and atertiaequal to1⁄216,000of a day (0.4 modern seconds).

Unicode

Main article:Ancient Symbols (Unicode block)

See also:Unicode input

A number of special symbols for Roman currency were added to theUnicodeStandard version 5.1 (April 2008) as the Ancient Symbols block (U+10190–U+101CF, in the Supplementary Multilingual Plane ).

Ancient Symbols[1][2] Official Unicode Consortium code chart(PDF)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

A

B

C

D

E

F

U+1019x

𐆐

𐆑

𐆒

𐆓

𐆔

𐆕

𐆖

𐆗

𐆘

𐆙

𐆚

𐆛

𐆜

U+101Ax

𐆠

U+101Bx

U+101Cx

Notes 1.^As of Unicode version 16.0 2.^Grey areas indicate non-assigned code points

As mentioned above, the names for divisions of anascoin (originally one libra of bronze) were also used for divisions of a libra, and the symbols U+10190–U+10195 are likewise also symbols for weights:

• U+10190 (𐆐):Sextans
• U+10191 (𐆑):Uncia
• U+10192 (𐆒):Semuncia
• U+10193 (𐆓):Sextula
• U+10194 (𐆔):Semisextula
• U+10195 (𐆕):Siliqua

See also

• Ancient Egyptian units
• Ancient Greek units
• Biblical and Talmudic units of measurement
• Byzantine units
• History of measurement

External links

• Proposal to Add Ancient Roman Weights and Monetary Signs to UCS (Universal Character Set)