Research Article

Antikythera Mechanism and the Ancient World

Table 3

Approximate quantity of the grain delivered from Sicily to Rome during the period (74–71 BC) and its cost.

IndexDescriptions of purchasePrice of wheat for modius, in sesterceQuantity in modiusAn approximate sum, in sesterce

1Corn from first tenthsAs tax3,000,0009,000,000
2Corn from second tenths33,000,0009,000,000
3Corn levied 3.5 (4)800,0002,800,000 (3,200,000)

Total
2 + 3Rome paid through Verres3,800,0011,800,00 (12,200,000)
1 + 2 + 3Total for one year6,800,00020,800,000
InfoS-ship grain cargo3360,0001,080,000

Tax corn sold at sesterces as social price (by “Lex Sempronia Agraria” law) for poor persons or sold at 3 sesterces as regular price; S-ship capacity is equal to 2,500 tons; capacity of usual vessel ~50–70 tons.