sextarius

measurement

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July 13, 2026

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The sextarius was a fundamental unit of measurement in ancient Rome, used for both dry goods and liquids. It was a key component of the Roman capacity system, with various other measures derived from it.

For dry goods, 16 sextarii equaled one modius, and 48 sextarii made one amphora. For liquids, the system was similar, with the quartarus being one-fourth of a sextarius. A mean value for the sextarius is approximately 0.58 liters.

It is important to distinguish this measurement unit from the constellation Sextans, which was invented by Johannes Hevelius in 1687 and commemorates his lost sextant.12

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measurement system
Greeks and Romans
…capacity measures were the hemina, sextarius, modius, and amphora for dry products and the quartarus, sextarius, congius, urna, and amphora for liquids. Since all of these were based on the sextarius and since no two extant sextarii are identical, a mean
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…capacity measures were the hemina, sextarius, modius, and amphora for dry products and the quartarus, sextarius, congius, urna, and amphora for liquids. Since all of these were based on the sextarius and since no two extant sextarii are identical, a mean
Read More