Convert Hand (hand) to Mile (Roman) (mi (Roman)) instantly.
About these units
Hand (hand)
The hand is a traditional unit of length equal to 4 inches, historically used to measure the height of horses. Its origins go back thousands of years, when people commonly relied on body-based measurements. While early hands varied from culture to culture, the modern standardized hand—set at exactly 4 inches—was adopted to bring uniformity to equine measurement worldwide. When measuring a horse, the height is taken at the withers, the ridge between the shoulder blades, because this location provides a stable and consistent point unaffected by head movement. Horse heights are often written in a mixed-unit style: for example, "15.3 hands" means 15 hands plus 3 inches, not 15.3 × 4 inches. Though rarely used outside the world of horsemanship, the hand has become deeply embedded in equestrian culture. It provides a system that is intuitive, easy to visualize, and respectful of longstanding tradition. In modern times, even highly scientific equine breeding and veterinary studies continue to quote measurements in hands.
Mile (Roman) (mi (Roman))
The Roman mile was defined as 1,000 paces (mille passus), approximately 1,479 meters. It was used throughout the Roman Empire to standardize distances along roads, military routes, and territorial boundaries. Roman engineers laid out roads using milestones measured in miles, which facilitated logistics, military coordination, and trade. The mile also influenced subsequent measurement systems in medieval Europe, forming the basis for the English mile. Understanding the Roman mile is essential for archaeologists, historians, and engineers studying ancient infrastructure, providing insight into the efficiency and planning of the Roman transportation network.