τᾰλαντ-ον, τό,
balance, Ζεὺς. τὸ τ. ἐπιρρέπει ἄλλοτε ἄλλως [
Refs 6th c.BC+]: in this sense used by [
Refs 8th c.BC+] only in
plural,
pair of scales, ἔχον ὥς τε τάλαντα γυνή, ἥ τε σταθμὸν ἔχουσα καὶ εἴριον ἀμφὶς ἀνέλκει ἰσάζουσα [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; especially of the
scales in which Zeus weighed the fortunes of men, χρύσεια πατὴρ ἐτίταινε τ. [
Refs]; ἐπὴν κλίνῃσι τ. Ζεύς, i.e. when he decides the issue of battle,[
Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the
scales of justice, δίκης κατέκειτο τάλαντα [
Refs 3rd c.BC+]: so in
singular, δίκας ῥέπει τάλαντον [
Refs 5th c.BC+]
2)
tax paid for the use of the public scales, [
Refs 6th c.BC+]
II)
anything weighed,
II.1)
a definite weight, talent, in [
Refs 8th c.BC+] always of gold, δέκα χρυσοῖς τάλαντα [
Refs 8th c.BC+]; χρυσοῦ. εὐεργέος ἑπτὰ τ. [
Refs 8th c.BC+]: from the order of the prizes in [
Refs 8th c.BC+] and other passages its weight was probably not great,[
Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.2) in post-[
Refs 8th c.BC+] was both a
commercial weight (differing in different systems), and also the
sum of money represented by the corresponding weight of gold or silver; τοῖσι μὲν (of the subjects of Darius) ἀργύριον ἀπαγινέουσι εἴρητο Βαβυλώνιον σταθμὸν τ. ἀπαγινέειν, τοῖσι δὲ χρυσίον ἀπαγινέουσι Εὐβοϊκόν· τὸ δὲ Βαβυλώνιον τ. δύναται Εὐβοΐδας (ὀκτὼ καὶ add. Reiz) ἑβδομήκοντα μνέας [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; τ. Ἀττικόν, Αἰγιναῖον, etc, [
Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.2.a) of money, τ. ἀργυρίου [
Refs 5th c.BC+]; μνᾶ ἀπὸ τοῦ τ. [
Refs]
II.2.b) of weight, τὸ τ. τὸ ἐμπορικόν[
Refs 4th c.BC+]; iron, [
Refs 3rd c.BC+]; cloth, [
Refs 3rd c.BC+]