metretes

METRE´TES(μετρητής), or AMPHORA METRETES (ἀφμορευς μετρητής, the standard amphora; it appears also as ἀμφορεύς, the shorter form of the old Homeric ἀμφιφορεύς, and as κάδος [Hdt. 1.51, 3.20-Z2]), was the principal Greek liquid measure. It contained 12 choes, 72 xestae (sextarii), 144 cotylae, 576 ὀξύβαφα, and 864 cyathi. It was 3-4ths of the medimnus, the chief dry measure. The Attic metretes was half as large again as the Roman amphora quadrantal, and contained 39.39 litres =69.33 pints, or slightly over 8 1/2 gallons =a water-weight of 1 1/2 talents. (See Tables.) The Aeginetan metretes contained 54.56 lit. or a little over 12 gallons, about the same content as the Persian artabe (Hdt. 1.192).

The Macedonian metretes is estimated by Hultsch (p. 563) as equal to the Attic. (Hultsch, Metrologie; MENSURA; PONDERA.)

(μετρητής), or amphŏra metrētes. The largest liquid measure of the Greeks, a little less than nine gallons. Its chief subdivisions were the Greek χοῦς (1/12), ξέστης (1/72), κοτύλη (1/144), κύαθος (1/864). The name is also given to a large earthenware vessel for oil (Cato , R. R. 100).