Getty Museum

Weight with Amphora

Date

second half of 5th century B.C.

Medium

Bronze filled with lead

Culture

Greek (Attic)

Department

Implements

Institution

Getty Museum

In antiquity, the Athenian government kept sets of official weights used to calibrate and verify the accuracy of other weights used in the city. These official weights were made of bronze rather than the usual, more easily alterable lead used for other weights. They also carried an inscription indicating that they belonged to the *Demosion* or public. This thick, square plaque is an Athenian official weight dating to the period from about 450 to 400 B.C. The symbol of an amphora in high relief and the inscription on the front indicate its value. The letters are an abbreviation for tritemorion, or one-third of a stater, a basic unit of weight at this time. The dotted inscription on the side of the weight is the abbreviation for *Demosion.* The stamped image of an owl, the symbol of Athens, on the front and side of the plaque are countermarks, indicating that the weight was periodically inspected. The back of the plaque is plain except for a rectangular cutting filled with lead to adjust the weight.

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