[Agora Webpage] AgoraPicBk 4 2004: Standard Weights and Measures

http://agathe.gr/democracy/standard_weights_and_measures.html

Standard Weights and Measures The Controllers of Measures (Metronomoi) have also left us many samples of their work. One set of bronze weights (34), inscribed as standard weights of the Athenians, are ... The somewhat different shape of a second-century measure (39) seems especially designed to fill a function outlined by a contemporary law: “Sellers of Persian nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, chestnuts, Egyptian beans, dates and any other dried fruits normally sold with these, also lupines, olives, and pine kernels shall use a measure of the capacity of three half-choinikes (about 1½ quarts) of grain leveled off, selling them heaped up in this choinix which shall be five fingers deep and have a lip one finger wide. . . .

[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: Administration and Bureaucracy

http://agathe.gr/democracy/administration_and_bureaucracy.html

Administration and Bureaucracy The economy of Athens was supervised by numerous boards of officials in charge of the mint, the marketplace, weights and measures, and the grain and water supplies. Most ... Official measures come in clay and bronze and were used both for dry goods (nuts, grain) and for liquids (wine, oil).