A measuring bar ten Roman feet (2.96 m) in length (pertica), derived from Lat. decem (ten) and pes (foot), which was used in architecture and especially in land surveying. There were 12 decempeda in one actus. As a square measure, the decempeda quadrata known as scripulum iugeri formed the smallest unit to be used in surveying = 1/2888 of the iugerum (8.76 m2). Measuring bars of more than ten foot have been recorded which were not referred to as decempeda.
Actus; Iugerum; Measures; Pes; Scripulum
Bibliography
F. Hultsch, Griech. u…