Convert mile (Roman) to hand Online | Free Length Converter

Mile (Roman)

The Roman mile (mille passuum, meaning "a thousand paces") was a unit of distance used in ancient Rome. It measured approximately 1,000 double steps, or 5,000 Roman feet. One Roman foot (pes) was about 11.65 inches (29.6 cm), making the Roman mile roughly 4,850 feet or about 1,480 meters.

The Roman mile was used for measuring distances along roads across the Roman Empire, often marked by milestones (miliaria) placed at intervals of one mile. This system allowed for standardized road construction and efficient communication and transportation across vast territories.

Although shorter than the modern statute mile (1,609.344 meters), the Roman mile laid the foundation for the concept of mile-based distance measurement. The word "mile" itself originates from the Latin "mille," reflecting this Roman origin. Over time, the length of a mile evolved, eventually leading to the modern definitions used today.

Hand

A hand is a traditional unit of length primarily used to measure the height of horses. It is equal to 4 inches or 10.16 centimeters.

The origin of the hand as a measurement comes from using the width of a human hand, and it has been standardized at 4 inches for consistency in horse measurement. Horse height is expressed in "hands," measured from the ground to the highest point of the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades).

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  1 hand = 4 inches

  
  
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  1 hand = 10.16 centimeters

  
  
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  Used mainly for measuring horse height

  
  
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  Horse height is often given in hands and inches, e.g., 15.2 hands means 15 hands plus 2 inches

  
  

The hand remains the standard unit for horse height in many English-speaking countries.