PLETHRON

( πλέθρον ), the fundamental land measure in the Greek system, being the square of 100 feet, that is, 10,000 square feet. The later Greek writers use it as the translation of the Roman jugerum , probably because the latter was the standard land measure in the Roman system; but, in size, the plethron answered more nearly to the Roman act us , or half-jugerum, which was the older unit of land measures. As frequently happened with the ancient land measures, the side of the plethron was taken as a measure of length, with the same name. This plethron was equal to 100 feet (or about 101 English feet) = 66⅔ πήχεις = 10 ἄκαιναι or κάλαμοι . It was also introduced into the system of itinerary measures, being 1-6th of the stadium .