Chapter I

In the tables given here the Latin and Greek names of the articles listed have been turned into English. The present-day accepted measure of quantity--for instance, the bushel or the quart--has been substituted for the ancient unit, and the corresponding price for the modern unit of measure is given. Thus barley was to be sold by the kastrensis modius (=18½ quarts) at 100 denarii (=43.5 cents). At this rate a bushel of barley would have brought 74.5 cents. For convenience in reference the numbers of the chapters and of the items adopted in the text of Mommsen are used here. Only selected articles are given.

(Unit of Measure, the Bushel)

1 Wheat 2 Barley 74.5 cents 3 Rye 45 " 4 Millet, ground 74.5 " 6 Millet, whole 37 " 7 Spelt, hulled 74.5 " 8 Spelt, not hulled 22.5 " 9 Beans, ground 74.5 " 10 Beans, not ground 45 " 11 Lentils 74.5 " 12-16 Peas, various sorts 45-74.5 " 17 Oats 22.5 " 31 Poppy seeds $1.12 34 Mustard $1.12 35 Prepared mustard, quart 6 "