Tamriel:Weights & Measures

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Contents 1 Distance 2 Time 3 Date 4 Weight 5 Money

[edit] Distance

Distance measures in the Elder Scrolls universe are mostly only seen in the descriptions for spells which have a ranged effect. These are given in feet. Additionally, the term "miles" is seen in several books for longer distances, as are "inches" occasionally. It is therefore assumed that the distance measurements are the same as the Imperial system in the real world, thus:

12 inches = 1 foot

3 feet = 1 yard

1760 yards = 1 mile

Imperial to SI Conversions:

1 inch = 2.54 cm

1 foot = ~30.5 cm

1 yard = ~0.914 m

1 mile = ~1609 m

[edit] Time

Time in the Elder Scrolls universe is measured exactly as it is in the real world, seconds, minutes, hours. Game time is roughly 30x faster than real time.

60 seconds = 1 minute

60 minutes = 1 hour

24 hours = 1 day

[edit] Date

The date in the Elder Scrolls universe is roughly the same as the real world, days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, millenia. The names of the days and months are different, and there is inconsistency between the games as to the number of days in each month. Years are typically written based on the Era. The first number being the Era followed by the letter 'E', and then the year of that Era, e.g.: 3E 426 is the year that the events of Morrowind begin. See Calendar for more detailed information.

7 days = 1 week

4 weeks ≈ 1 month

12 months = 1 year

10 years = 1 decade

10 decades = 1 century

10 centuries = 1 millenium

[edit] Weight

Weight is rather more difficult to determine. All items have a given weight, but while a number is given, there is almost never any reference to the actual units of measurement used in the Elder Scrolls universe. There is a single reference to "pounds" in the book The Argonian Account, Book 1, which tends to suggest that like distance, weight is measured in the Imperial system. "Tons" are also seen in a few books. However, to assume that the weight for items is given in pounds seems somewhat unreasonable. The smallest value given for an item's weight is generally 0.1, which is seen on most lighter alchemy ingredients in both Morrowind and Oblivion. It does seem to be a bit of a stretch to say that 10 flower petals could possibly weigh a pound. Likewise, on the other end of the scale, a character with a Strength of 100 (the highest possible without magical enhancement) is able in both Morrowind and Oblivion to carry 500 units of weight. While it may not be all that unusual for a particularly strong individual to lift 500 pounds, it's somewhat more unlikely that this same individual would be able to carry it around all the time, walking, running, horseback riding, even fighting with all that weight on their shoulders... Thus it seems as though the units used in the game are most likely considerably lighter than a pound. Perhaps the units would be closer to a 1/10th of a pound, but there's really no way to be sure. A Silver Longsword weighs 28 units of weight in-game, and an average medieval sword weighed from 2 to 3 pounds. In contrast, a set of Steel Armor weighs 94.5 units of weight, which is roughly what it would weigh in real life.

[edit] Money

There is only one unit of currency in the Elder Scrolls universe: gold coins emblazoned with the head of the current Emperor, which are varyingly referred to as "Gold", "Septims", or "Drakes", with the latter two refering to the depictions on each side of a coin - Akatosh, a dragon, or drake, on one side, and Tiber Septim on the reverse. The term "Septims" is Imperially biased, and thus not as often used by those who bear little love for the Empire. What the end of the Septim Dynasty brought about by the events of Oblivion will bring remains to be seen. "Drakes" is a less formal, though more commonly used term, still somewhat Imperial in origin. "Gold" seems to be the mostly widely accepted term for the currency, based on frequency in dialogue, and usage in books and other mediums in the games.