Balance weights in the Aegean world. Classical and Hellenistic periods. Translated from Turkish into English by Inci Türkoglu.

Original bdg. HC. Roy. 8vo. (24 x 17 cm). In English. [x], 210 p., color ills. 300 copies were printed. Balance weights in the Aegean world. Classical and Hellenistic periods. Translated from Turkish into English Inci Türkoglu. Historically, balance weights are as old as the balances themselves. Actually, balance and weight examples of Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Hittite civilisations are known from wall paintings, reliefs, papyri and collections. However, the scope of this book is the balance weights produced and used in the Aegean world during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Balance weights were among the instruments of public sphere (instrumenta publica) of antiquity and they constitute an important group of antiquities worth studying for their unit marks, symbols, depictions, inscriptions and ornaments. However, balance weights have been among the most neglected artefacts within archaeological research. Certainly, this work at handbook level should not be expected to fill the gap entirely, but rather call attention to this field. The examples were chosen from the city-states in the Aegean world and cover only those which bear ethnic or symbol (parasemon). CONTENTS: FOREWORD. INTRODUCTION. Scope, material, and sources. History of research in the light of basic publications. 1. AN OVERVIEW OF WEIGHTS: Form, material, and manufacture. Symbols (parasema) and other depictions. Denominations. Ethnic. State guarantee (Demosion). 2. WEIGHT SYSTEMS, STANDARDS AND SOLON^'S REFORM: Weight systems. Standards and changes in the standards. Solon's reform. 3. MARKET PLACES AND MARKET CONTROLLERS: Agoras and their functions. Magistrates in charge of the agora and the weights. 4. CITIES AND THEIR WEIGHTS 35. Athens. Corinth. Olympia. Olynthos. Thasos. Maroneia. Ainos. Lysimachia. Bisanthe. Byzantion. Kalchedon. Kyzikos. Lampsakos. Abydos. Ilion. Tenedos. Gentinos. Alexandria Troas. Skepsis. Myrina. Kyme. Smyrna. Chios. Kolophon. Ephesos. Priene. Miletos. Alabanda. Herakleia under Latmos. Rhodos. GENERAL EVALUATION. APPENDICES. Appendix 1: Balances, steelyards and steelyard weights. Appendix 2: Civic weights under the Roman Empire. ABBREVIATIONS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. IMAGE SOURCES. TECHNICAL ABBREVIATIONS. GLOSSARY. PLATES.