For the land surveyor's device, see Stadia rod.
The stadia, stadium, stade or stadion is an ancient unit of length. There were several different lengths used depending on the country of origin.
| Stade name | Length (approximate) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Itinerary | 157 m | used in measuring the distance of a journey. |
| Olympic, Attic or Greek | 185 m | See also Ancient Greek units of measurement#Length |
| Royal Egyptian | 210 m | See also Ancient Egyptian units of measurement#the ro or portion |
Which measure of the stadia is used can affect the interpretation of ancient texts. For example, the error in the calculation of the size of the Earth by Eratosthenes is dependent on which stade is chosen to be appropriate.
See also
References
- Fred Hoyle, Astronomy, Rathbone Books Limited, London 1962 LC 62-14108.
