1 plethron = orgyia, similar to the fathom, the distance from tip to tip of the out stretched arms.
1 orgyion = 4 pecheis, or cubits.
1 pechus = pous (foot).
1 pous = 14, spithame (span) from tip to tip of outstretched thumb and finger.
1 spithame = 3 palaiste' or handbreadth.
1 palaist6 = 4 dactyloi or finger-breadth.
2 stadia = a diaylos, 4 a hippikom and 12 a dolichos. This Attic or Olympian stadion = 184.97 meters or 606 feet.
The common Greek measure of area was the plethron or square, on the unit of length = 0.095 hectare or 0.235 acre.
Greek units of volume. Attic, were as follows for liquids: 1 metretes = 12 thous = 72 xestes = 144 kotyle = 258 tetarton = 576 oxybaphon = 564 kyathos.
1 metretes = 39.39 liters or 43.33 quarts. For dry materials.
1 medinmos = 6 hecteus (modios) = 12 hemi beetons = 45 choinix = xestes = 192 = 1152 kyathos; 1 medinums = 52.53 liters or 57.9 quarts.
The Greek units of mass or weight were 1 tal ent = 60 mime = 6000 drachmai = 36.000 oholoi = 28S,000 chalkia = 26.2 kilograms = 57.7 pounds.
In the Roman system we find the foot of 29.57 centimeters or 11.64 inches. duodecimally sub divided with special names as = foot, also pes (foot) .= 4 palmi = 16 digiti = palatines cubitus. used in building: for geodeti, work we have I actin = 12 decem peda (pertica, perch) = 24 passus = 45 grades = 120 pedas, In traveling the following were used : A Roman mile (mille passuum) .= stadia = 1000 passus = 5000 pedes. The P,o mans used the jugernm (as) as the fundamental of = 0.252 hectare or 0.623 acre. As umItiples we have 1 saltus = 4 centuria- = 400 heredia = S00 jugera: 1 jugerum = 2 actus = S (lima = 255 scripula (decempeda quadrata) 25.500 pedes quadrati.
Boman units of capacity were for liquids: 576 cyathus = 3S4 acetalmlum = 192 quartarins = 96 heinina = 4S sextarius = S congius = 2 mina = 1 amphora = 26.26 liters = 25.9 quarts. For dry materials, 192 cyathus = 125 acetalm hn = 64 quartarins = 32 hemina = 16 sex tarius = 2 semodius = 1 modins = 5.754 liter = 9.62 quarts. The Roman unit of weight. the 1)01111(1. was subdivided duodecimally with special names as semis bee etc., into 12 uncife each equal to 4 sieiliei = 24 seripula = 45 °boll = 144 siliqum = 27.29 grains = 1.01 ounces.
Passing over the details of inedheval European units, it appears that in England, up to 1100, an old building foot existed, about 13.22 inches, and the mile = 79200 inches, subdivided into 10 furlongs (100 chains) or 1000 fathoms. This fathom is half the Belgian pertica or perch, equals two yards or six feet. Unfortunately, this system was legally suppressed and gradually driven out in favor of the foot of 12 inches, which had been legally enforced as (-arty as the tenth century. The league is a Gallic unit, and lasted in Wales (= 1.56 miles) till the seven teenth century.
Prior to A.D. 950 the Saxon standards were kept at Winehetiter, where copies were compared and stamped. pleasure at Winchester shall lie the standard," was the decree of King Edgar. Under the Norman8 the standards were trans ferred to Westminster and placed in the care of the chamberlains of the exchequer, but their di mensions were not changed. These came later to he known as 'The Standards of the Exchequer.' In 1224 the rule is laid down that: 3 = 1 inch; 12 inches = 1 font; 3 feet = 1 ell (vine) ; nine = 1 perch ; 40 perches long and 4 in breadth = I acre. The barleycorns are to he dry, laid end to end, and taken from the middle of the ear. Under Henry VI., Richard 11., and Anne an extra inch or 'thumb's breadth' was added to the yard for stretching, of cloth. Rich ard II. decreed uniformity for the kingdom "ex cept in Lancaster, which always had larger meas ures." A yard of Henry VII., dated 1490, and one of Elizabeth, 158S, are undoubtedly the oldest Brit ish standards of length, and they differ only about one hundredth of an inch from the present Imperial British yard. Still extant are also the Guildhall yard of 1660, `Rowley's Tower stand ard' of 1720, etc. In 1742 the Royal Society had an accurate yard made. called 'Graham's yard.' A committee of Parliament in 1758 had two very accurate yards made by 'John Bird, who made another in 1760. These were 39.73 inches long and near each end was inserted a gold plug upon which the mark was made; they were of brass rods a trifle over an inch square in cross section.