000 01467cam a2200229 4500500
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041 _afre
042 _adc
100 1 0 _aCharrey, Pierre
_eauthor
245 0 0 _aFrom instrument of control to art object: Did a “standard” weight exist in Byzance (4th-7th centuries)
260 _c2020.
500 _a25
520 _aThe general idea of the standard weight or étalon (in French) as an instrument certified by an incontestable authority is inadequate to apprehend the diversity of ancient control instruments and prototypes. Taking as a case study the late Roman Empire, characterized by unprecedented standardization of weights and scales, we propose to set aside the convenient notion of “standard” to investigate the gap between practice and discourse in the administration of weights and measures. Analysis of legislative sources, when viewed in the light of certain prestigious instruments of Byzantine trade, undermines the vague notion of officiality in favour of historically situated practices of control and standardization of measuring instruments by the Empire.
690 _aweight
690 _abiblical exegesis
690 _ametrology
690 _amanuscript tradition
690 _acommensurability
690 _acoins
786 0 _nHistoire & mesure | XXXV | 1 | 2020-11-13 | p. 105-126 | 0982-1783
856 4 1 _uhttps://shs.cairn.info/journal-histoire-et-mesure-2020-1-page-105?lang=en
999 _c174219
_d174219