Plethron
Encyclopedia
Plethron is a measurement used in Ancient times, equal to 100 Greek feet
(pous/ποῦς). It was roughly the width of a typical athletic running-track, and was used as the standard width and length of a Wrestling square, since wrestling
competitions were held on the racing track in early times.
A plethron is given as the size of the wrestling area by Libanius
in Orationes Chapter 10.
Although the standard measure for a plethron may have varied from polis to polis, it normally corresponded to the length of around 30 meters (100 ft). A square plethron is consequently a square of around 30 by 30 meters, i. e. something like 900 square meters.
The plethron continued to be used in the Byzantine Empire
and was defined as 100 feet or 40 paces (bema/βῆμα); one square plethron was a stremma
.
Pous
The pous was a unit of length used through much of the Iron Age in Europe and the Ancient Near East.A pous is a Greek foot. One stadion is always 600 podes,...
(pous/ποῦς). It was roughly the width of a typical athletic running-track, and was used as the standard width and length of a Wrestling square, since wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
competitions were held on the racing track in early times.
A plethron is given as the size of the wrestling area by Libanius
Libanius
Libanius was a Greek-speaking teacher of rhetoric of the Sophist school. During the rise of Christian hegemony in the later Roman Empire, he remained unconverted and regarded himself as a Hellene in religious matters.-Life:...
in Orationes Chapter 10.
Although the standard measure for a plethron may have varied from polis to polis, it normally corresponded to the length of around 30 meters (100 ft). A square plethron is consequently a square of around 30 by 30 meters, i. e. something like 900 square meters.
The plethron continued to be used in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and was defined as 100 feet or 40 paces (bema/βῆμα); one square plethron was a stremma
Stremma
The stremma is a Greek unit of land area, equal to 1,000 square metres, also called the 'royal' stremma. The name comes from a root meaning 'to turn', presumably referring to the amount of land that can be plowed/turned in a day....
.