BOOK VII. 261 



course consists of one hundred librae, and for that reason is called a 

 hundred weight. 



The various weights are : — 



This libra consists of sixteen unciae, and the half part of the libra is 

 the selibra, which our people call a mark, and consists of eight unciae, or, as 

 they divide it, of sixteen semunciae : — 

 9th = 8 unciae. 

 loth = 8 semunciae. 

 nth =4 

 I2th = 2 



13th = I semuncia. 

 14th = I sicilicus. 

 15th = I drachma. 

 i6th = I dimidi-drachma. 

 The above is how the "greater" weights are divided. The "lesser" 

 weights are made of silver or brass or copper. Of these, the first and largest 

 generally weighs one drachma, for it is necessary for us to weigh, not only 

 ore, but also metals to be assayed, and smaller quantities of lead. The first 

 of these weights is called a centumpondium and the number of librae in it 

 corresponds to the larger scale, being hkewise one hundred*^. 

 The 1st is called i centumpondium. 



The fourteenth is the last, for the proportionate weights which correspond 

 with a drachma and half a drachma are not used. On all these weights of 

 the lesser scale, are written the numbers of librae and of semunciae. Some 



*2See note 27, p. 242, for discussion of this " Assay ton " arrangement. 



