CHEME
CHEME (
χήμη), derived from
χα-,
“to gape;” hence it means “a yawn” (Hesych.); also
the “cockle,” from its gaping double shell (Arist.
H.
A. 5.15, 4). Lat.
chama. For varieties
of cockles, see Pliny,
Plin. Nat. 32.147.
But its best known signification is that of a small measure of capacity,
about the size of a cockle-shell (cf.
κόγχη). Its exact size is variously related.
1. In Galen's table of liquid measures
χήμη μικρά ῀
μύστρον μικρόν = 1/12
κοτύλη = 1/24 of 27.36 centilitres = 2.28 centilitres = 2.28 x
0.0176 Eng. pints 0.04 Eng. pints. In the table called that of Cleopatra's
cosmetics, a similar measure is called
ἐλάττων
κόγχη. It was equal to two cochlearia.
2. In this table of Cleopatra there is a special section devoted to very
small measures of capacity, arranged according to weight in drachmas. One
drachma of oil or wine (see Hultsch,
Metrologie der Griechen,
&c. p. 110, n. 5) represented the capacity of 1/60 of an Attic
κοτύλη. In this table the
χήμη ἡ μεγάλη is a capacity for holding three
drachmas ... 3/60 Attic
κοτύλη = 1.368
centilitres = 0.024 Eng. pint. The
χήμη ἡ
μικρά is 2/3 of this = 0.016 Eng. pint.
3. In the table of Dioscorides the
χήμη is
1/4 of the
κύαθος (which is itself 1/6 of a
κοτύλη) = 1.14 centilitres = 0.02 Eng.
pint. This latter is the Ptolemaic reckoning (
Metrologie,
625). It was = one cochlear.
The symbol for
χήμη was
χ. Evidence for most of the above statements will
be found in F. Hultsch,
Metrologici Scriptores, Index,
s. vv.
χήμη and
chema.
[
L.C.P]
