What Is This Tool?
This converter allows you to transform weight measurements from the bekan, a Biblical Hebrew unit representing half a shekel, into tetradrachma, the Biblical Greek unit denoting a silver coin equivalent to four drachmae. It supports historical and archaeological inquiries by converting between ancient units of silver mass.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the numeric value in bekan you wish to convert
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Select bekan as the input unit and tetradrachma as the output unit
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Click the convert button to obtain the equivalent amount in tetradrachma
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Use the result for historical, archaeological, or numismatic applications
Key Features
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Converts weight from bekan (Biblical Hebrew) to tetradrachma (Biblical Greek)
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Supports historical unit conversions for biblical and archaeological studies
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Offers easy-to-use browser-based interface for quick results
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Utilizes established conversion rate between ancient units
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Facilitates cross-cultural economic and monetary analyses
Examples
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Convert 2 bekan: 2 × 0.4191176471 = 0.8382352942 tetradrachma
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Convert 5 bekan: 5 × 0.4191176471 = 2.0955882355 tetradrachma
Common Use Cases
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Analyzing half-shekel temple taxes and census contributions described in biblical texts
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Estimating weights of silver offerings and payments recorded in biblical law
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Supporting numismatic and archaeological studies of ancient Hebrew and Greek silver coins
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Translating weights in biblical and Hellenistic documents to facilitate cross-cultural economic comparisons
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Authenticating Greek silver coin weights against historical tetradrachma standards
Tips & Best Practices
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Always consider historical context due to variations in ancient shekel and tetradrachma standards
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Use the converter to complement archaeological and numismatic research rather than as an absolute measure
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Refer to the conversion rate as approximate owing to non-standardized historical units
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Check multiple sources when analyzing ancient silver weights for greater accuracy
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Utilize the tool alongside biblical scholarship for comprehensive interpretations
Limitations
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Variations in ancient shekel measures make the bekan's exact mass approximate
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Regional differences impact the precise mass equivalence of the tetradrachma
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Both units are historical and not aligned with modern SI units, so conversions are approximate
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Conversion results depend on contextual interpretation of ancient standards
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a bekan in Biblical Hebrew?
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The bekan is a unit of weight in Biblical Hebrew, commonly understood as half of an ancient shekel used in biblical times.
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What does a tetradrachma represent in Biblical Greek?
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A tetradrachma is a silver coin worth four drachmae and also serves as a unit of mass used in Biblical Greek contexts.
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Why is this conversion useful?
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It allows scholars to compare and analyze weights and monetary values across biblical Hebrew and Greek texts, aiding historical and archaeological research.
Key Terminology
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Bekan (Biblical Hebrew)
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A unit of weight in the Hebrew Bible representing half a shekel, used for assessing temple taxes and offerings.
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Tetradrachma (Biblical Greek)
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A silver coin and unit of mass equal to four drachmae, used historically to denote weight in biblical and Hellenistic contexts.
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Conversion Rate
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The factor 1 bekan = 0.4191176471 tetradrachma used to translate between these two ancient units of silver mass.