Fig. 198.—Roman Bronze Balances (Nos. 477, 480). Ca. 1:4.
The steelyard principle was also applied by the Romans to balances, with a view to avoiding the use of numerous small weights. An example is No. 477 (fig. 198), where one half of the bronze arm is graduated with twelve divisions corresponding to scruples (1⁄24 of an ounce). The sliding weight would thus be used to determine weights of less than half an ounce. The bar of another balance (No. 478) had 24 such divisions for determining any weight below the ounce. A saucepan from Pompeii (No. 479) in the Naples Museum has the same principle applied to its handle, for weighing the liquid contents. An interesting little balance (No. 480; fig. 198) may be mentioned here. At one end is a fixed weight in the form of a head (of the Sun-god?). This balance was adapted to test the weight of an object weighing about 69 grains, perhaps a Roman coin such as the denarius or solidus.
In the lower part of Cases 43, 44 it will be noted that the arm of a steelyard and one of the arms of a balance are shown, with a bronze fitting (No. 481; fig. 199) designed to check the amplitude of the oscillations. A corresponding piece may be seen on a railway platform weighing machine. This piece was long misinterpreted as a standard, etc., but its real intention is made certain by reliefs at Treves (fig. 200) and Capua.
Fig. 199.—Check for Steelyard (No. 481).
Fig. 200.—A Steelyard in use.
(457, 458) Amelung, Sculpt. d. Vat., pl. 30, p. 275 ff.; (459) Arch. Anzeiger, IV., p. 102; (460) Excavations in Cyprus, pl. xi., 368, etc. On Greek and Roman weights see Daremberg and Saglio, s.v. Pondus; Cambridge Companion to Greek and to Latin Studies; (466) Cf. Olympia, V. (Inschriften), p. 801 ff.; (467) Newton, Disc. at Halicarnassus, II., pp. 387 and 804; (469) Mon. dell' Inst., 1855, pl. 1; (472) C.I.L., XIII., 10030 (10); (474) Cat. of Lamps, 595; (481) Cat. of Bronzes, 2909. For Treves relief (fig. 200) cf. Hettner, Illustr. Führer, p. 6; for Capua relief, cf. Jahreshefte d. Oesterr. Arch. Inst., XVI., Beibl., p. 10; for the standing balance, see also Stuart and Revett, IV., p. 15.
[52:] See Ann. of Brit. School at Athens, VII., p. 42, fig. 7.