Greek Weights.—In Case B of the First Vase Room will be seen the plaster model of a large stone object of triangular form, pierced towards the apex with a hole.52 It has the design of an octopus on either side, and may with some probability be regarded as a standard hanging weight (64 pounds). This object was found by Sir A. Evans at Knossos in Crete, in the "Palace of Minos," and may be dated roughly at 2000 B.C. A set of very early weights of the Mycenaean period from Cyprus is in Case 41, consisting of haematite objects in the form of sling bolts (No. 460), passing in a series of gradations from large to small. No definite system can, however, be deduced from these weights.
The Greek weights of the historic period here shown are mainly of two leading standards, known as the Aeginetan and the Solonian or Attic. The standard weight of the Aeginetan system was the heavy mina of 9,722 grains (about 12⁄5 lb. avoirdupois). The Solonian (Euboic) mina weighed normally 6,737 grains (nearly 1 lb. avoirdupois), but there was a special heavy mina in use which weighed exactly double the normal. This last was the original mina introduced by Solon, which gradually gave way to the light mina of half its weight. Weights of the Aeginetan and Solonian systems are here exhibited. Through incompleteness or inaccuracy they often show considerable variation from the norm. The mina was subdivided into 100 drachmae, and the drachma into 6 obols. Certain stamped devices distinguish these Attic weights, viz., the astragalos or knuckle-bone, the amphora, the tortoise, the dolphin, and the crescent. Fig. 194 shows three weights of the later Solonian standard: (a) a mina in lead stamped with a dolphin and inscribed ΜΝΑ (7,010 grs.) (No. 461); (b) a half mina in lead (3,399 grs.) with the device of a tortoise and the inscription ΔΗΜΟ (= δήμου), "of the people," (No. 462); and (c) a bronze weight of 4 drachmae (283 grs.) stamped with an amphora and the word ΤΕΣΣΑΡΕΣ (No. 463). Sometimes a half tortoise occurs, as in No. 464, a quarter mina, or a half amphora, as on No. 465, a one-third mina. Various other standards are represented in this Case, e.g. that of Kyzikos in Asia Minor, but these need not be particularly described. A noteworthy weight is the bronze one (No. 466), in the form of a series of rising steps, inscribed on the top ΔΙΟΣ. This probably is a temple-weight, very likely used to weigh votive objects. Weights of a similar type have been found at Olympia. The peculiar series of stone weights (No. 467) decorated with female breasts was found in the precincts of the temple of Demeter at Knidos, and may be regarded as temple-weights, probably made as a votive offering. They do not seem to correspond to any known standard.
Some weights are marked as standards. A lead weight of 10,863 grains, with a design of two cornucopias (No. 468) is inscribed Ἔτους δλςʹ δημοσία μνᾶ, i.e., "In the year 234 a public (or standard) mina." The date is probably by the Seleucid era, and equivalent to 78 B.C. Another example is the large square weight from Herakleia in Bithynia, with a head of Herakles in relief (No. 469; fig. 195). It is inscribed "To the divine Augusti and the people" (θεοῖς Σεβαστοῖς καὶ τῷ δάμῳ) on the rim in front, and on the sides with the names of the aediles P. Clodius Rufus and Tertius Vacilius (weight 41,494 grs., nearly 6 lb. avoirdupois).
We have instances of weights of artistic form in these Cases. The hanging weights from steelyards in particular (No. 470; fig. 195) are often in the form of a head or bust.
Roman Weights.—The standard was here the libra or pound, which weighed 5,050 grains (being ·721 of the pound avoirdupois, which is equal to 7,000 grains), and was subdivided into 12 unciae or ounces, the ounce again being divided into 24 scripula or scruples. The Roman weights are here grouped according to multiples or divisions of the pound, and generally have their values marked upon them in dotted characters. Thus the pound is marked I, the half pound S(emis), and so on. The series, beginning at the bottom of Case 51, runs 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1½, and 1 pounds. Fractions of the pound are ½ lb. (semis) = 6 oz; ⅓ lb. (triens) = 4 oz.; ¼ lb. (quadrans) = 3 oz.; 1⁄6 lb. (sextans) = 2 oz.; and one ounce. Fractions of the ounce are ½ oz. = 12 scruples; ⅓ oz. = 8 scruples; ¼ oz. = 6 scruples; ⅛ oz. = 3 scruples; 1⁄12 oz. = 2 scruples; and one scruple. Some of the numerous dark stone weights have inscriptions, showing that they had been certified by proper authority. Thus one libra (No. 472) is inscribed: "On the authority of Q. Junius Rusticus, city-prefect" [167 A.D.]. In Sicily and Magna Graecia a weight called a litra was used instead of the Roman pound, weighing rather less than the libra. A set of litra weights in bronze, of late Imperial date, is shown in Case 41 (No. 473). An ounce weight (marked inscription on ounce weight in silver, and weighing 389 grains), belonging to this series, is seen in fig. 194 above.
Weighing Instruments.—Of these there are two chief varieties, the simple balance (libra), and the steelyard (statera). In the former weight is set against, weight, at equal distances from the point of suspension. In the latter the object to be weighed, suspended from the short arm of the lever, is set against a small weight in an appropriate position on the long arm. The Greeks seem to have used the former only; the Romans used both. The use of the balance is illustrated by the Greek vase with the design of Hermes weighing the souls of Achilles and Memnon, and by the Roman lamp showing a stork weighing an elephant and a mouse (No. 474). The steelyard was widely used in the Roman world. Owing to its portability, it was doubtless much employed by hawkers and street-sellers, as at the present day. We have also seen it above (p. 158) in the pork-butcher's shop (No. 459). Out of the several steelyards exhibited here, one example, from Catania in Sicily (No. 475; fig. 196), may be described in detail. It consists of a bronze rod of square section, divided into two unequal portions. The shorter portion has (a) two hooks suspended from chains attached to the end of the rod by a movable collar working in a groove (the object to be weighed was of course attached to these hooks); (b) three hooks, placed at intervals of about ¾, 1½, and 3 in. respectively from the collar, and suspended from small movable rings. These hooks are in different planes, corresponding to three of the four edges in the longer portion of the bar. The bar is graduated on three of its four faces, viz., on the first with nine divisions, each subdivided into twelfths. This scale was used when the steelyard was suspended by the hook nearest the graduated bar (as in the fig.). Objects weighing up to nine Roman pounds could thus be weighed by moving a sliding weight along the bar. The figure V will be seen at the fifth pound, the half pounds are marked by three dots, and the twelfths correspond to the unciae. The second face begins with VI and goes up to twenty-three pounds. It was used when the steelyard was suspended by the middle hook. The third face starts with XXII pounds, and goes up to fifty-nine pounds. In the second and third scales, multiples of five and ten pounds are marked by the figures V and X. Fifty pounds is indicated by the letter Ν, which has that numerical value in the Greek notation. This third scale was used in conjunction with the hook nearest the collar. The sliding weight (now lost) must have weighed about 17,000 grs. (23⁄7 lb. avoirdupois). All the other steelyards here shown work on this principle, though many have only two graduated scales and two suspending hooks.
Fig. 197 shows a highly ornate example of a steelyard (No. 476), lately acquired from the neighbourhood of Smyrna. The weight is in the form of a bust of Silenus. The larger hooks are designed as heads of serpents, and the smaller hooks as heads of eagles.
The steelyard principle was also applied by the Romans to balances, with a view to avoiding the use of numerous small weights. An example is No. 477 (fig. 198), where one half of the bronze arm is graduated with twelve divisions corresponding to scruples (1⁄24 of an ounce). The sliding weight would thus be used to determine weights of less than half an ounce. The bar of another balance (No. 478) had 24 such divisions for determining any weight below the ounce. A saucepan from Pompeii (No. 479) in the Naples Museum has the same principle applied to its handle, for weighing the liquid contents. An interesting little balance (No. 480; fig. 198) may be mentioned here. At one end is a fixed weight in the form of a head (of the Sun-god?). This balance was adapted to test the weight of an object weighing about 69 grains, perhaps a Roman coin such as the denarius or solidus.
In the lower part of Cases 43, 44 it will be noted that the arm of a steelyard and one of the arms of a balance are shown, with a bronze fitting (No. 481; fig. 199) designed to check the amplitude of the oscillations. A corresponding piece may be seen on a railway platform weighing machine. This piece was long misinterpreted as a standard, etc., but its real intention is made certain by reliefs at Treves (fig. 200) and Capua.
(457, 458) Amelung, Sculpt. d. Vat., pl. 30, p. 275 ff.; (459) Arch. Anzeiger, IV., p. 102; (460) Excavations in Cyprus, pl. xi., 368, etc. On Greek and Roman weights see Daremberg and Saglio, s.v. Pondus; Cambridge Companion to Greek and to Latin Studies; (466) Cf. Olympia, V. (Inschriften), p. 801 ff.; (467) Newton, Disc. at Halicarnassus, II., pp. 387 and 804; (469) Mon. dell' Inst., 1855, pl. 1; (472) C.I.L., XIII., 10030 (10); (474) Cat. of Lamps, 595; (481) Cat. of Bronzes, 2909. For Treves relief (fig. 200) cf. Hettner, Illustr. Führer, p. 6; for Capua relief, cf. Jahreshefte d. Oesterr. Arch. Inst., XVI., Beibl., p. 10; for the standing balance, see also Stuart and Revett, IV., p. 15.
52: See Ann. of Brit. School at Athens, VII., p. 42, fig. 7.