Legal Definitions - modius

Modius refers to a historical unit of measurement, primarily used in ancient Roman contexts. It typically represented a specific volume, similar to a bushel, but could also refer to a less precise measure, particularly for land area or other quantities.

• Example 1 (Specific Volume): Imagine a Roman farmer in the 1st century AD selling his grain harvest. He might inform a buyer, "I have 50 modii of wheat available for purchase."

  This example illustrates the modius as a standard unit of dry volume, much like a modern bushel, allowing both parties to understand the quantity of grain being exchanged.

• Example 2 (Uncertain Land Measure): In an ancient Roman land deed, a property description might state that a particular plot "extends for 100 modii along the riverbank."

  Here, the modius is used as a general, perhaps locally understood, measure of length or area for land. It indicates the approximate size of the parcel without the precise standardization of modern units like meters or acres.

• Example 3 (Uncertain Commodity Measure): A historical record of a Roman market might mention a merchant offering "three modii of olives" or "a modius of salt."

  This demonstrates the modius as a unit for various commodities beyond grain or land. While it signifies a quantity, its exact modern equivalent might have varied depending on the specific region or time, highlighting its nature as a historical and sometimes less standardized measure.