A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities

• Acana — An ancient unit of measurement for length used in Greece and Persia, representing a measuring rod ten feet long (approximately three meters). In a secondary historical sense, the term also designated a square area of land determined by this rod. The concept is attested in ancient writings on land surveying and historical metrology, serving as an important indicator of agrarian organization in Antiquity.
• Arsa — An ancient historical unit of land measurement, formerly used in certain regions of the Romanian territories, particularly in Oltenia and Muntenia. The term referred to an arable plot of land or an agricultural area demarcated by traditional methods, its exact value varying according to the era and local surveying customs, being closely tied to medieval and pre-modern administrative organization.
• Astynomy — A public institution in Ancient Greece led by astynomoi, which held responsibilities similar to those of a modern urban and municipal police force. This administrative structure was responsible for maintaining public order, street sanitation, overseeing construction, inspecting markets, and ensuring compliance with social cohabitation norms in major Hellenic cities.