By Water & Blood

Syriac introductory sections

THE TREATISE OF ST. EPIPHANIUS ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

THE TREATISE OF ST. EPIPHANIUS ON WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 

(SYRIAC INTRODUCTORY SECTIONS)^[1]

1.  [Further, it is well that we should know] what occasion induced Saint Epiphanius to compose ^[2] this treatise on the measures and weights in the divine Scriptures. The occasion arose in the church when Saint Epiphanius, bishop of Constantia in Cyprus, was summoned by the God-fearing kings Valentinian,^[3] Theodosius, Arcadius, and Honorius, by letter. There was dwelling in Constantinople a certain venerable priest, Bardion by name, a Persian by race, a learned man, eager to learn (whatever is of) value in the divine Scriptures. He found weights and measures in the divine Scriptures; he sought information about them from Saint Epiphanius, the bishop. Then, perceiving the diligence of the one asking, he (the bishop) devoted himself to the task of collecting (information) from all the divine Scriptures and a multitude of histories. And when he had done this, he wrote it out in orderly fashion. And these things were finally composed and written as follows.

2.  A list in brief of the topics found in this treatise.^[4] Concerning weights. The talent, of 125 librae.^[5] The assarion,^[6] 100 lepta, by which (term lepton) also the smallest (weight) among the Hebrews is translated. The nomisma, 60 assaria; the assarion, however, consists of 100 denaria.^[7] The nomisma of silver; hence they say also silver (talent) in the Scriptures. The nomisma, that is to say, the silver (talent), |12 they divide into 6,000 lepta; it is also what accountants call the unit. The centenarius of 100 librae, which the Romans invented. The libra, 12 ounces; but the ounce is 2 staters, and the stater 4 zuze. Two zuze, 1 shekel, which is one-fourth of an ounce. The kodrantes, which also has the weight of 1 shekel, that is one-fourth of an ounce.^[8] But the kodarion is so named from the fact that it is tied up (in a purse) when it is changed. There was also an obolus which contained one-eighth of an ounce; it was of iron and in the form of an arrow. But there was also another obolus that was coined of silver, one-eightieth of an ounce. The chalkoi were found among the Egyptians, who originally made 8 to the ounce, each one of which was a zuzå. The Italian mina, of 20 ounces; but the barbarian, which is also the Theban, of 30 ounces. And, finally, they minted other kinds also, sometimes of 2 librae and sometimes of 4 librae. The dichryson ^[9] was half of the silver (denarius), and the silver (denarius) was a zuzå. And this dichryson was also finally called repudiated, because of him who had coined it. And there is also a silver coin called the folis, having the weight of half an ounce. And the folis, (so called) because of the roundness of its form, is that which is found among the Hebrews as the @@@ ,^[10] which, moreover, is 2 double zuze of silver. But among the Romans there were formerly 125 ^[11] by number in the measure called the follis, which is also the bag, that is to say, the purse.^[12] Two lepta, 1 shekel, which is one-fourth of an ounce. Every lepton, an obolus.

3. Concerning the measurement ^[13] of land and measures (of capacity). The "field" ^[14] is a land measure and consists of (the land sown by) 5 or 6 seahs. The kor is 30 modii. The lethekh is 15 modii, the same as the great homer.^[15] The great homer, 15 modii. The bath, |13 otherwise the little homer, 50 xestai. The seah, an overfull modius, that is to say, because of its overflow, a modius and a quarter. The modius, of 22 xestai, which is also the sacred measure. The cab, among some one-fourth of a modius, among others one-fifth, and among a few one-sixth. The choinix, among the Cyprians one-eighth of the modius, which (with them) is 17 xestai, making 2 1/8 xestai. The hyfi ^[16] of fine flour, being the same as the choinix. The handful of meal, what the hand can grasp; and so the measure signifies as much as the hand can hold.^[17] The ardeb, 72 xestai, which also is found as a sacred measure. Three measures of fine flour, one-tenth, it is said, of an ardeb, that is, 7 1/5 xestai, (in) every measure. But each measure holds an omer; and, again, in every measure (are) 3 (little) omers, every one of them 2 xestai and one- third and one-fifteenth. Three measures of fine flour are not a measure but a kind, that is, broken grains of wheat that have been ground and have fallen into baskets.^[18] The nevel of wine is a measure of 150 xestai, that is to say, 3 liquid seahs; for a liquid seah consists of 50 xestai. The kollathon, among the Syrians half of a liquid seah, which is 25 xestai. The shatifta ^[19] of ointment, a vessel round in form, containing a libra by weight, that is to say, half a xestes. The aporryma, only among the Thebans, which is half a saites, of 11 xestai; for a complete saites is 22 xestai. The kapsakes of water, the great one of 12 xestai; but the small one that was provided for Elijah ^[20] was of 4 xestai. The kotyle of oil, one-half a xestes. The kyathos, a measure for mixed wine, the xestes being divided sometimes into 6 parts, sometimes into 3. The metretes of wine; great is the variation in this measure, but according to the sacred measure 72 xestai. The metretes of oil indicates the same measure. The tryblion, shaped like the scutella, ^[21] but a measure of half a xestes. The xestes; there is great variation in the xestai, the Pontic being four times the Alexandrian, 8 librae in oil, but the Italian 22 ounces, the Alexandrian 2 librae, the castrensis 2 librae |14 and two-thirds and a little (more), the Nicomedian 20 ounces. The amphora, said to be the same measure as the nevel, for the Cyprians call a jar of 150 xestai an amphora. The shafitha, which among those of Ashkelon is of 22 xestai, among those of Azotus of 18 xestai, among those of Gaza of 14 xestai. The hin, the great one, 18 xestai, which is one-fourth of a metretes; but the sacred one is 9 xestai. The chus, the complete one, of 8 xestai, but the sacred one of 6 xestai. The golden stamnos,^[22] which was of 4 xestai, in which was the manna. The mares, among the Pontians 2 jars, each one of 10 xestai, which is 20 Alexandrian xestai. The kupros, among them 2 modii. The congiarium, of 6 xestai. The m^enasis, among the Cyprians and others 10 modii of wheat or barley. The medimnos of the Cyprians varies; for those of Constantia say 5 modii, but those of Paphos and the Sicilians say 4 1/2 modii. Here ends the (list of) topics. |15

(THE TREATISE) OF ST. EPIPHANIUS, BISHOP OF THE CITY OF CONSTANTIA IN CYPRUS, ON MEASURES AND WEIGHTS AND NUMBERS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THE DIVINE SCRIPTURES

(THE TREATISE) OF ST. EPIPHANIUS, BISHOP OF THE CITY OF CONSTANTIA IN CYPRUS, ON MEASURES AND WEIGHTS AND NUMBERS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN THE DIVINE SCRIPTURES