an ancient measure of capacity used by the Persians, Medes, and Egyptians. The Persian artaba is represented by Herodotus as equal to one Attic medimnus and three choinices, or 102 Roman sextarii = about 12½ gallons; but, according to Suidas, Hesychius, Polyenus (Strat. iv. 3, 32), and Epiphanius (Pond. 24), it only contained 1 Attic medimnus = 96 sextarii, or about 11½ English gallons. The Egyptians used two measures of this name; the old artaba, containing 4½ Roman modii = 72 sextarii = about 8½ gallons, though Galen makes it exactly 5 modii; and the new artaba which contained 3½ modii = 53½ sextarii = about 6½ gallons.