obol
1
9.9
An ancient Greek money unit equal to one sixth of a drachma
- noun
- /ˈoʊbəl/
- Archaic
:
óbolo
- A single obol was not enough to buy a loaf of bread in the marketplace.
Examples
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During the excavation, several obols were discovered.
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The ancient coin collection included a rare silver obol from Athens.
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Merchants in ancient Greece sometimes accepted payment in obols for small goods.
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He found an obol in the ancient ruins.
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In ancient Greece, citizens would often pay for services with obols, as they were a common form of currency.
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To cross the river Styx in mythology, the deceased needed to offer a obol to Charon for safe passage.
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During the classical period, a worker might earn just a few obols for a day's labor.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Obol comes from Greek obolos, a 'small metal rod' used as a coin that was worth one-sixth of a drachma, so the word was used as the name of that small unit of currency and weight in ancient Greece.