ARTABA, an ancient measure of capacity used by the Persians, Medes, and Egyptians.
The Persian artaba is represented by Herodotus as bigger than the Attic medimnus by three Attic checines: from which it appears that it was equal to 6½ Roman modii; consequently that it contained 166½ pounds of wine or water, or 126½ pounds of wheat. The Egyptian artaba contained five Roman modii, and fell short of the Attic medimnus by one modius; consequently held 133½ pounds of water or wine, 100 pounds of wheat, or 60 of flour.