View source for Cotyla

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:''The cotylae are also features on the [[Upper extremity of radius|proximal end of the radius]] and [[upper extremity of ulna|of the ulna]] in [[bird]]s.''
[[File:Athens Kotyle cup with an owl.jpg|thumb|Attic ''cotyla'' cup with an owl (5th century BC), [[National Museum, Warsaw|National Museum]], in [[Warsaw]]]]
In [[classical antiquity]], the '''''cotyla''''' or '''''cotyle''''' ({{etymology|grc|''{{wikt-lang|grc|κοτύλη}}'' ({{grc-transl|κοτύλη}}),|cup, bowl}}) was a measure of capacity among the [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] and [[Ancient Rome|Romans]]: by the latter it was also called {{wikt-lang|la|hemina}}; by the former, {{Lang|grc|τρυβλίον}} and {{Lang|grc|ἡμίνα}} or {{Lang|grc|ἡμίμνα}}. It was the half of the ''[[Ancient Roman units of measurement|sextarius]]''<ref>From the {{lang|la|Carmen de ponderibus et mensuris}} we have the following:
:{{lang|la|At cotylas, quas si placeat dixisse licebit}}
:{{lang|la|Eminas, recipit geminas sextarius unus}}</ref> or {{Lang|grc|ξέστης}}, and contained six ''[[Ancient Greek units of measurement|cyathi]]'', or nearly half a [[pint]] English.<ref name="GRA">{{SmithDGRA|article=Co'tyla|page=367}}</ref>
This measure was used by physicians with a graduated scale marked on it for measuring out given weights of fluids, especially [[oil]]. A vessel or horn, of a cubic or cylindrical shape, and of the capacity of a ''cotyla'', was divided into twelve equal parts by lines cut on its side. The whole vessel was called [[litra]], and each of the parts an [[ounce]] ({{lang|la|uncia}}). This measure held nine ounces (by weight) of oil, so that the ratio of the weight of the oil to the number of ounces it occupied in the measure would be 9:12 or 3:4.<ref name="GRA"/>
[[Nicolas Chorier]] (1612–1692) observes that the ''cotyla'' was used as a dry measure as well as a liquid one, from the authority of [[Thucydides]], who in one place mentions two cotylae of wine, and in another two ''cotylae'' of bread.<ref name="cyclopaedia">{{1728}}</ref>
The name is also given to a type of [[Typology of Greek vase shapes|ancient Greek vase]] broadly similar in shape to a ''[[skyphos]]'' but more closely resembling a ''[[kantharos]]''.
==See also==
* [[Nestor's Cup (Pithekoussai)|Nestor's Cup]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Greek vase shapes}}
{{commonscat|Cotyle}}
[[Category:Units of volume]]
[[Category:Society of ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek pot shapes]]
[[Category:Ancient Roman units of measurement]]
{{Measurement-stub}}
[[ca:Llista d'unitats de volum de l'antiga Grècia#Kotyle]]