The distinctive point
Roman actus quadratus: a value with room for evidence
The distinctive point is the uncertainty, not just the headline magnitude. The matrix carries ± 8.5248 m² and names the basis as one-hundred-forty-four-square-rods. That keeps comparison possible without pretending that every specimen, survey, or period produced one perfect constant.
Basis: one-hundred-forty-four-square-rods. Check the record source.
- smallerRoman scripulum144 × Roman scripulum
- largerRoman iugerum1/2 of Roman iugerum
What this unit was
Roman actus quadratus is modelled here as a area standard of the Roman tradition, associated with Roman world during Late Republic to Imperial representative. The converter represents one actus² as 1261.6704 m²; its basis is one-hundred-forty-four-square-rods. The matrix carries an indicative uncertainty of ± 8.5248 m².
Within that setting, the unit belonged to a working system for land assessment, cultivation, taxation, and the description of built or agricultural space. It should be read with its period, locality, and evidential basis attached, not as a universal value shared by every culture using a similar name.
Evidence of use and sources
The working value is traceable to Smith Dictionary Mensura. Its record is classified as high confidence and uses the stated basis rather than an assumed culture-wide constant.
Three directly pertinent excerpts from the supplied library are available.
“The rest of the Measures are founded on known proportions.”
Tables of antient coins, weights, and measures, PDF p. 78. reconstructed proportional systems
“Stadium contain'd 125 Roman Paces, or 625 Feet”
Tables of antient coins, weights, and measures, PDF p. 81. Roman distance relationship
“the trade value of the Attic standard, and ... the coinage value”
Flinders Petrie, Ancient Weights and Measures, PDF p. 31. trade and coin systems must be distinguished
Working definition
Roman actus quadratus is represented as a Roman standard associated with Roman world during Late Republic to Imperial representative.
The converter uses 1261.6704 m² per unit with indicative matrix uncertainty ± 8.5248 m².
How to use it
Basis: one-hundred-forty-four-square-rods; confidence: high. A shared historical name does not make this value portable to another period or polity.
Open this unit in the Area converter · Return to all units