eidome

Eidome refers to a unit of area used in ancient Greece. The exact size of an eidome varied regionally and historically, making precise modern equivalents difficult to establish definitively. It was generally understood to be a measure of land suitable for a specific agricultural purpose, such as planting a certain amount of seed or supporting a particular number of animals.

The term is derived from the Greek word "oikos," meaning household or estate, suggesting a connection to the land held by a family or a farmstead. While not as standardized as later units like the hectare or acre, the eidome provided a practical means of quantifying land for taxation, inheritance, and trade within ancient Greek communities. Its usage reflects the agrarian nature of these societies and the importance of land as a primary source of wealth and sustenance. The variability of the eidome highlights the decentralized nature of ancient Greek economic and administrative systems before more unified measures were adopted.