The "cubit" (Greek: πῆχυς, pēchys) in ancient Greece was a unit of length used in antiquity for measuring various objects, including architectural dimensions. Like many ancient units of measurement, the length of the Greek cubit could vary over time and by region.
The most commonly referenced Greek cubit is the "common" or "short" cubit, which is believed to have been approximately 45 centimeters (about 17.7 inches) in length. However, there were variations in the length of the cubit in different parts of Greece and during different periods in ancient history.
The Greek cubit was used for measuring building dimensions, as well as in various crafts and trades. It was often based on the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, much like other cubits used in different ancient cultures.
It's important to note that the length of the Greek cubit is a matter of historical interpretation and may not be precisely defined due to variations in antiquity.
A "pica" is a unit of measurement commonly used in typography and desktop publishing to represent the size of text, fonts, and other elements on a printed page. The pica is part of a system of measurement used in the field of typesetting, which involves arranging and designing text for printed materials.
In the pica system:
1 pica (abbreviated as "p") is equal to 12 points. 1 point (abbreviated as "pt") is approximately equal to 1/72nd of an inch.
So, 1 pica is roughly equal to 1/6th of an inch.
This system is based on the traditional point system used in printing, where a point is a very small unit of measurement. Picas and points are still widely used in the design and printing industry, especially when specifying font sizes, line spacing, and other layout details for printed materials like books, magazines, and newspapers.
In digital design and modern desktop publishing software, you can often switch between using picas and points or other units like inches, millimeters, or pixels to set and adjust the layout of text and graphic elements.