Convert Assarion (Biblical Roman) (assarion) to Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap) instantly.
About these units
Assarion (Biblical Roman) (assarion)
The assarion, worth 1/16 of a denarius and weighing roughly 0.25 grams, was one of the smallest Roman coins. It appears in biblical writings to illustrate humility or trivial monetary values ("Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion?"), giving cultural insight into economic metaphors of the time. As a weight, the assarion shows how finely Roman society subdivided monetary units for everyday commerce.
Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap)
The scruple is an old apothecary unit equal to 20 grains or 1.2959782 grams, originating in ancient Greek and Roman medicine. Apothecaries used scruples for compounding herbal remedies, powders, and tinctures long before standardized metric systems were adopted. Its size made it ideal for preparing early pharmaceuticals where doses needed to be accurate but not excessively granular. Over centuries, the scruple appeared in medical recipes, early scientific writings, and even medieval charms and remedies. Although obsolete today, replaced by milligrams and grams, the scruple is vital for historians studying early medical texts, pharmacy records, and classical-era scientific practices.