τάλαντον (root ταλ, τλῆναι): (1) scale, pl. scales, balance, Il. 12.433; esp. fig., of the golden scales in which Zeus balances the fates of men, Il. 8.69, Il. 16.658, Il. 19.223.—(2) a definite (unknown) weight, talent, χρῦσοῖο, *i 122, Od. 4.129.
, Ζεὺς ..τὸ τ. ἐπιρρέπει ἄλλοτε ἄλλωσThgn.157; ζυγὸν ταλάντουA.Supp.823 (lyr.); ταλάντῳ μουσικὴ σταθμήσεταιAr.Ra.797: in this sense used by Hom. only in pl.,
pair of scales
, ἔχον ὥς τε τάλαντα γυνή .., ἥ τε σταθμὸν ἔχουσα καὶ εἴριον ἀμφὶς ἀνέλκει ἰσάζουσαIl.12.433; esp. of the
scales
in which Zeus weighed the fortunes of men, χρύσεια πατὴρ ἐτίταινε τ. 8.69, 22.209; γνῶ γὰρ Διὸς ἱρὰ τ. 16.658; ἐπὴν κλίνῃσι τ. Ζεύσ, i.e. when he decides the issue of battle, 19.223; τ. βρίσας οὐκ ἰσορρόπῳ τύχῃA.Pers.346; of the
scales
of justice, δίκης κατέκειτο τάλανταh.Merc.324, cf. AP6.267.4 (Diotim.): so in sg., δίκας ῥέπει τάλαντονB.17.25. 2.
tax paid for the use of the public scales
, SIG 4.7 (Cyzicus, vi B.C.). II.
anything weighed
, 1.
a definite weight, talent
, in Hom. always of gold, δέκα χρυσοῖς τάλανταIl.9.122; δύω χρ. τ. 18.507; δέκα πάντα τ. ten in all, 19.247, 24.232; χρυσοῦ ..εὐεργέος ἑπτὰ τ. Od.9.202; χρυσοῖο τάλαντον ..τιμήεντοσ 8.393: from the order of the prizes in Il.23.262 sq. and other passages its weight was probably not great, cf. Arist.Fr.164. 2. in post-Hom. writers, the τάλαντον 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 Εὐβοί̈δας (ὀκτὼ καὶ add. Reiz) ἑβδομήκοντα μνέασHdt.3.89; τ. Ἀττικόν, Αἰγιναῖον, etc., Poll.9.86; ἐποίησε [ὁ Σόλων] σταθμὰ πρὸς τὸ νόμισμα τρεῖς καὶ ἑξήκοντα μνᾶς τὸ τ. ἀγούσασArist.Ath.10.2. a. of money, τ. ἀργυρίουHdt.7.28, cf. X.HG3.5.1, etc.; χίλια τ. νομίσματοσAeschin.2.174; μνᾶ ἀπὸ τοῦ τ. IG12.220.7, cf. 92.37, al. b. of weight, τὸ τ. τὸ ἐμπορικόν ib.22.1013.35; used in weighing lead, ib.12.374.287, 42(1).103.131 (Epid., iv B.C.), PMich.Zen.9.4 (iii B.C.); iron, PCair.Zen.144.6 (iii B.C.), CPHerm.p.77 (iii A.D.); cloth, PMich.Zen.120.8 (iii B.C.), etc.