Ancient Weights and Their Materials: An Overview of Standardization and Use

Ancient Babylon and Weights Standardization

Ancient societies relied heavily on standardized weights to ensure fair trade and accurate measurements. One notable example is the Babylonian standardization of weights as described in the Code of Hammurabi, dating back to around 1754 BC. A single talent, which was approximately 30 kilograms, was divided into 60 mina, with each mina weighing about 500 grams. Each mina was further divided into 60 shekels, with each shekel weighing approximately 8.3 grams. This balance beam and bronze weight method was prevalent during the Bronze Age.

Development of Weights in Ancient Anatolia

Ancient Anatolia also employed the talent and mina system, albeit varying in the way mina was subdivided. King Alyattes of Lydia is credited with minting electrum alloy into stater coins around 600 BC, which eventually spread across the Mediterranean region. As the Iron Age began around 1200 BC, the use of iron weights became more common due to the availability and machining capacity of this material. The image of a bronze scale discovered in Pompeii is a testament to the enduring importance of precise measurements.

Ancient Greece and Its Weight Standards

Ancient Greece, including cities like Athens, adopted the stater and mina system. However, Greece developed its own subdivisions for the mina, dividing it into 100 drachmae. One drachma was further divided into 6 oboloi. In ancient Athens, a daily wage for a juror of three silver oboloi was enough to sustain a family of three for a single day. This reflects the economic and social importance of accurate measurements in such societal structures.

Evidence of Stone Weights from Ancient Greece

Archaeological evidence from sites like Tiryns in Greece provides insight into the use of stone weights. These physical artifacts suggest the practical challenges and materials available for precise measurement in ancient times. Understanding these weights and their materials helps us appreciate the complexity of trade and commerce in ancient societies.

The Weight of Grain and International Trade

It's also important to note that in many ancient trade systems, grains were often sold by volume rather than weight. The terms "grain" and "carat" were actually derived from the actual weights of plant seeds, indicating the close relationship between agricultural production and measurement standards.

Conclusion

The evolution and standardization of weights and measurement systems reflect the growing complexity of trade, commerce, and governance across ancient civilizations. Copper, bronze, iron, and even stone served as the materials for these weights, each reflecting the technological and economic capabilities of the time.

Understanding these historical contexts provides valuable insights into the practices and values of ancient societies, and how they navigated the challenges of trade and governance. Whether through bronze, iron, or stone, ancient weights were central to the intricate web of trade and commerce that defined these civilizations.