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This webpage reproduces part of the
Loeb Classical Library volume of
Cato's de Agricultura
and
Varro's de Re Rustica
(1934)

The text is in the public domain.

This page has been carefully proofread
and I believe it to be free of errors.
If you find a mistake though,
please let me know!

p531 Glossary of Terms

Measures of capacity, weights, and monetary units are translated into approximate U. S. and British equivalents, in most cases slightly smaller than the former and a trifle larger than the latter.

Thayer's Note: As any economist will tell you, monetary conversions have never been more than indicative at best; here, in addition, we have a book published in 1934: inflation has done its work, and a better idea, though still quite vague, of the monetary values will be got by multiplying the figures given by 20. Thus, for example, the denarius below might be thought of as roughly equivalent to $3.

Acetabulum: = 1½ cyathi, ⅛ pint, liquid or dry measure.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Acetabulum in Smith's Dictionary.

Amphora: = 2 urnae, 6 gallons, liquid measure.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Amphora in Smith's Dictionary.

Concha: a small, shell-shaped vessel.

Congius: = 6 sextarii, 3 quarts, liquid measure.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Congius in Smith's Dictionary.

Cotyla: a small vessel with capacity of 1 hemina, ½ pint.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Cotyla in Smith's Dictionary.

Culleus: = 20 amphorae, 120 gallons, liquid measure.

Cyathus: = 1⁄12 pint, liquid measure.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Cyathus in Smith's Dictionary.

Denarius: = 4 sestertii, about 16 cents or 8d.

Eugeneum: cf. Gk. "well born." A kind of grape said by Pliny (N. H., XIV.4) to have originated in Sicily.

Greek block: an ancient mechanical lifting device of pulleys and ropes, resembling our "block and tackle" mounted on uprights and worked by ropes and windlasses. The contrivance is described by Vitruvius IV. (De Architectura, X.2‑5) alone of classical writers, though mentioned elsewhere. See also Hugo Blümner, Technologie und Terminologie der Gewerbe und Künste bei Griechen und Römern, Vol. III, p112, with drawings.

Hemina: = 2 quartarii, ½ pint, liquid or dry measure.

Thayer's Note: Another Latin name for the cotyla; for more details, see the article Cotyla in Smith's Dictionary.

Iugerum: an area of 28,800 square feet, •approximately ⅔ acre.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Jugerum in Smith's Dictionary.

Iugum vinarium: apparently in Cato, 11.2, a yoke from which wine-buckets were suspended for transportation; perhaps elsewhere some sort of framework for the support of young vines. Such a iugum is often mentioned in connection with vine-growing, and is described by Columella, IV.17, 19, 22; cf. Varro I.8.1.

Libella: a silver coin, worth about ⅒ denarius.

Mina: a Greek weight = 100 Attic drachmas, •slightly less than 1 pound.

Modius: = •1 peck, dry measure.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Quadrantal in Smith's Dictionary, passim.

Orcite: a kind of olive, whose Greek name (cf. ὄρχις) suggests its shape — oblong.

Posea: a kind of olive, valued for its oil.

Quadrantal: = 1 amphora.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Quadrantal in Smith's Dictionary.

Sestertius: = 2½ asses, about 4 cents or 2d.

Sextarius: = 2 heminae, •1 pint, liquid or dry measure.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Sextarius in Smith's Dictionary.

Triobolus: as a weight = ½ drachma.

Urna: = 4 congii, •3 gallons, liquid measure.

Thayer's Note: For more details, see the article Urna in Smith's Dictionary.

Victoriatus: a silver coin, worth about ½ denarius, 8 cents or 4d., in the time of Varro.

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