6061. Roman Measures of Length

6061.    Roman Measures of Length. The Roman measures of length or distance were feet, cubits, paces, stadia, and miles.

The Roman Acre contained 240 feet in length, and 120 in breadth, that is, 28,800 square feet.

6062. Roman Weights

6062. Roman Weights. The chief weight among the Romans was the As, or Libra, a pound, equal in English Troy weight to 10 ounces 18 dwt. 13 grains; this Libra was divided into 12 parts, Unciae (ounces) and these Unciae into several weights of lower denominations.

6063. Roman Measures of Capacity

6063.    Roman Measures of Capacity. The most common measure of capacity was the Amphora, called also Quadrantal or Cadus, containing nearly 9 English gallons. They had also a measure called Congius, equal to 1/8 of an Amphora, or 11/8 gallon English; and another called Sextarius, equal to 1/8 of the Congius, or about 11/2 pints.

6064. Roman Division of Time

6064.    Roman Division of Time. Romulus is said to have divided the year into 10 months, beginning with March; Numa added the other 2 months. When Julius Csesar became master of the State, he adjusted the year according to the course of the sun, and assigned to each month the number of days which it still contains. This is the famous Julian Year, which continues in use to this day in all Christian countries, without any variation except that of the old and new style, occasioned by Pope Gregory, A. d. 1582. The Romans divided their months into three parts, by Calends, Nones, and Ides. The 1st day was called the Calends, the 5th day the Nones, and the 13th the Ides; except in March, May, July, and October, when the Nones fell on the7th, and the Ides on the 15th. The custom of dividing time into weeks was introduced under the Emperors, being derived from the Egyptians; and the days of the week were named from the planets, viz.: Dies Solis, Sunday ; Lunae, Monday; Martis, Tuesday; Mer-curii, Wednesday; Jovis, Thursday; Veneris, Friday; Saturui, Saturday. In marking the days, they counted backwards; thus they called the last-day of December, Pridie Calen-das Januarii, or the day before the Calends of January; the 30th day they called the third day before the Calends of January; and so on through the year. In leap-year the 24th and 25th days of February were both called the 6th day before the Calends of March, and hence this year is called Bissextilis. The day, as with us, was divided into 12 hours, and lasted from six o'clock in the morning till six in the evening. The night was divided into four watches, each consisting of three hours. The Romans had no clocks or watches, and the first dial is said to have been erected in Rome so late as 447 years after the building of the city.