Extracts from Diocletian's List of Maximum Prices

I

In the tables given here the Latin and Greek names of the articles listed have been turned into English. The present-day accepted measure of quantity—for instance, the bushel or the quart—has been substituted for the ancient unit, and the corresponding price for the modern unit of measure is given. Thus barley was to be sold by the kastrensis modius (=18½ quarts) at 100 denarii (=43.5 cents). At this rate a bushel of barley would have brought 74.5 cents. For convenience in reference the numbers of the chapters and of the items adopted in the text of Mommsen are used here. Only selected articles are given.

(Unit of Measure, the Bushel)
1 Wheat
2 Barley 74.5 cents
3 Rye 45 "
4 Millet, ground 74.5 "
6 Millet, whole 37 "
7 Spelt, hulled 74.5 "
8 Spelt, not hulled 22.5 "
9 Beans, ground 74.5 "
10 Beans, not ground 45 "
11 Lentils 74.5 "
12-16 Peas, various sorts 45-74.5 "
17 Oats 22.5 "
31 Poppy seeds $1.12
34 Mustard $1.12
35 Prepared mustard, quart 6 "

II

(Unit of Measure, the Quart)
1a Wine from Picenum 22.5 cents
2 Wine from Tibur 22.5 "
7 Wine from Falernum 22.5 "
10 Wine of the country 6 "
11-12 Beer 1.5-3 "

III

(Unit of Measure, the Quart)
1a Oil, first quality 30.3 cents
2 Oil, second quality 18 "
5 Vinegar 4.3 "
8 Salt, bushel 74.5 "
10 Honey, best 30.3 "
11 Honey, second quality 15 "

IV

(Unit, Unless Otherwise Noted, Pound Avoirdupois)
1a Pork 7.3 cents
2 Beef 4.9 "
3 Goat's flesh or mutton 4.9 "
6 Pig's liver 9.8 "
8 Ham, best 12 "
21 Goose, artificially fed (1) 87 "
22 Goose, not artificially fed (1) 43.5 "
23 Pair of fowls 36 "
29 Pair of pigeons 10.5 "
47 Lamb 7.3 "
48 Kid 7.3 "
50 Butter 9.8 "

V

(Unit, the Pound)
1a Sea fish with sharp spines 14.6 cents
2 Fish, second quality 9.7 "
3 River fish, best quality 7.3 "
4 Fish, second quality 4.8 "
5 Salt fish 8.3 "
6 Oysters (by the hundred) 43.5 "
11 Dry cheese 7.3 "
12 Sardines 9.7 "

VI

1 Artichokes, large (5) 4.3 cents
7 Lettuce, best (5) 1.7 "
9 Cabbages, best (5) 1.7 "
10 Cabbages, small (10) 1.7 "
18 Turnips, large (10) 1.7 "
24 Watercress, per bunch of 20 4.3 "
28 Cucumbers, first quality (10) 1.7 "
29 Cucumbers, small (20) 1.7 "
34 Garden asparagus, per bunch (25) 2.6 "
35 Wild asparagus (50) 1.7 "
38 Shelled green beans, quart 3 "
43 Eggs (4) 1.7 "
46 Snails, large (20) 1.7 "
65 Apples, best (10) 1.7 "
67 Apples, small (40) 1.7 "
78 Figs, best (25) 1.7 "
80 Table grapes (2.8 pound) 1.7 "
95 Sheep's milk, quart 6 "
96 Cheese, fresh, quart 6 "

VII

(Where (k) Is Set Down the Workman Receives His "Keep" Also)
1a Manual laborer (k) 10.8 cents
2 Bricklayer (k) 21.6 "
3 Joiner (interior work) (k) 21.6 "
3a Carpenter (k) 21.6 "
4 Lime-burner (k) 21.6 "
5 Marble-worker (k) 26 "
6 Mosaic-worker (fine work) (k) 26 "
7 Stone-mason (k) 21.6 "
8 Wall-painter (k) 32.4 "
9 Figure-painter (k) 64.8 "
10 Wagon-maker (k) 21.6 "
11 Smith (k) 21.6 "
12 Baker (k) 21.6 "
13 Ship-builder, for sea-going ships (k) 26 "
14 Ship-builder, for river boats (k) 21.6 "
17 Driver, for camel, ass, or mule (k) 10.8 "
18 Shepherd (k) 8.7 "
20 Veterinary, for cutting, and straightening hoofs, per animal 2.6 "
22 Barber, for each man .9 cent
23 Sheep-shearer, for each sheep (k) .9 "
24a Coppersmith, for work in brass, per pound 3.5 cents
25 Coppersmith, for work in copper, per pound 2.6 "
26 Coppersmith for finishing vessels, per pound 2.6 "
27 Coppersmith, for finishing figures and statues, per pound 1.7 "
29 Maker of statues, etc., per day (k) 32.4 "
31 Water-carrier, per day (k) 10.9 "
32 Sewer-cleaner, per day (k) 10.9 "
33 Knife-grinder, for old sabre 10.9 "
36 Knife-grinder, for double axe 3.5 "
39 Writer, 100 lines best writing 10.9 "
40 Writer, 100 lines ordinary writing 8.7 "
41 Document writer for record of 100 lines 4.3 "
42 Tailor, for cutting out and finishing overgarment of first 26.1 "
43 Tailor, for cutting out and finishing overgarment of second 17.4 "
44 For a large cowl 10.9 "
45 For a small cowl 8.7 "
46 For trousers 8.7 "
52 Felt horse-blanket, black or white, 3 pounds weight 43.5 "
53 Cover, first quality, with embroidery, 3 pounds weight $1.09
64 Gymnastic teacher, per pupil, per month 21.6 cents
65 Employee to watch children, per child, per month 21.6 "
66 Elementary teacher, per pupil, per month 21.6 "
67 Teacher of arithmetic, per pupil, per month 32.6 "
68 Teacher of stenography, per pupil, per month 32.6 "
69 Writing-teacher, per pupil, per month 21.6 "
70 Teacher of Greek, Latin, geometry, per pupil, per month 87 "
71 Teacher of rhetoric, per pupil, per month $1.09
72 Advocate or counsel for presenting a case $1.09
73 For finishing a case $4.35
74 Teacher of architecture, per pupil, per month 43.5 cents
75 Watcher of clothes in public bath, for each patron .9 cent