[Agora Webpage] AgoraPicBk 4 2004: Standard Weights and Measures

http://agathe.gr/democracy/standard_weights_and_measures.html

Standard Weights and Measures The Controllers of Measures (Metronomoi) have also left us many samples of their work. One set of bronze weights (34), inscribed as standard weights of the Athenians, are ... The somewhat different shape of a second-century measure (39) seems especially designed to fill a function outlined by a contemporary law: “Sellers of Persian nuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, chestnuts, Egyptian beans, dates and any other dried fruits normally sold with these, also lupines, olives, and pine kernels shall use a measure of the capacity of three half-choinikes (about 1½ quarts) of grain leveled off, selling them heaped up in this choinix which shall be five fingers deep and have a lip one finger wide. . . .

[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: The Prytaneis

http://agathe.gr/democracy/the_prytaneis.html

The Prytaneis (Executive Committee) The senators administered their meetings themselves. Each tribal contingent in the Boule served in rotation for a period of 35 or 36 days as the Prytaneis, or Executive ... The meals were probably fairly modest in the beginning: cheese, barley cakes, olives, leeks, and wine, although by the late 5th century the menu also included fish and meat.