`mtlookup` tutorial

Jesús Cabrera (jccsvq)(*), 2025.

(*) At gmail.com

Introduction

Python3 command line application based on MesoMath to search for the abstract number that corresponds to a measure or to list measures that correspond to a given abstract number (option: -r).

Installation

Please refer to the installation of metrotable and follow the same steps.

How to use

Options:

$ mtlookup -h

$ mtlookup --help

list the program options:

usage: mtlookup [-h] [-t {L,Lh,S,V,C,W,SysG,SysS}] [-r] [-f FORCE] [-v] [-p]
                VALUE

Prints abstract number corresponding to a meassure or lists measures having an
abstract number.

positional arguments:
  VALUE                 Value

options:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -t {L,Lh,S,V,C,W,SysG,SysS}, --type {L,Lh,S,V,C,W,SysG,SysS}
                        Metrology to use (default: None)
  -r, --reverse         Reverse lookup ,lists measures having an abstract
                        number (default: False)
  -f FORCE, --force FORCE
                        Force base unit to number FORCE (default: -1)
  -v, --verbose         Prints more information (default: False)
  -F {0,1}, --fractions {0,1}
                        Use fractions, -F 1 to include 1/6 (default: -1)
  -p, --pedantic        Write the coefficients of the units in the
                        measurements using the S and G Systems (default:
                        False)

jccsvq fecit, 2025. Public domain.

Metrologies

Metrology is selected with the options -t or --type:

L: length meassurements
Lh: length meassurements (Heights)
S: surface meassurements
V: volume meassurements
C: capacity meassurements
W: weight meassurements
SysS: System S to count objects
SysG: System G to count objects

Direct search

Returns the abstract value corresponding to a measurement in a given metrology.

$ mtlookup -t L '1 us 30 ninda'

returns:

1 us 30 ninda  ->  1:30

You can use the verbose options -v or --verbose:

$ mtlookup -t L '1 us 30 ninda' --verbose

Abstract number for  Babylonian length meassurement
    Base unit:  ninda
========================================================
1 us 30 ninda  ->  1:30 Reciprocal:  40

Reverse search

With the -r or --reverse options you get a list of measures that match the given abstract number:

$ mtlookup -t L 1.30 -r

Looking for  Babylonian length meassurements with abstract =  1.30
    Base unit:  ninda
========================================================
10800 danna  <-  1:30
180 danna  <-  1:30
3 danna  <-  1:30
1 us 30 ninda  <-  1:30
1 ninda 6 kus  <-  1:30
9 susi  <-  1:30

$ mtlookup -t L 1.30 -r -v

Looking for  Babylonian length meassurements with abstract =  1.30
    Base unit:  ninda
========================================================
10800 danna 
    Equiv.:  116640000.0 meters 
    Abstract:  1:30
180 danna 
    Equiv.:  1944000.0 meters 
    Abstract:  1:30
3 danna 
    Equiv.:  32400.0 meters 
    Abstract:  1:30
1 us 30 ninda 
    Equiv.:  540.0 meters 
    Abstract:  1:30
1 ninda 6 kus 
    Equiv.:  9.0 meters 
    Abstract:  1:30
9 susi 
    Equiv.:  0.15 meters 
    Abstract:  1:30

In some cases, due to the discrete nature of the measurements and rounding, the last rows of the list only show approximate values:

$ mtlookup -r -t L 6.40.38

Looking for  Babylonian length meassurements with abstract =  6.40.38
    Base unit:  ninda
========================================================
2884560 danna  <-  6:40:38
48076 danna  <-  6:40:38
801 danna 8 us  <-  6:40:38
13 danna 10 us 38 ninda  <-  6:40:38
6 us 40 ninda 7 kus 18 susi  <-  6:40:38
6 ninda 8 kus 3 susi  <-  6:40:30
1 kus 10 susi  <-  6:40

you can use options -s --strict to suppress them:

$ mtlookup -r -t L 6.40.38 -s

Looking for  Babylonian length meassurements with abstract =  6.40.38
    Base unit:  ninda
========================================================
2884560 danna  <-  6:40:38
48076 danna  <-  6:40:38
801 danna 8 us  <-  6:40:38
13 danna 10 us 38 ninda  <-  6:40:38
6 us 40 ninda 7 kus 18 susi  <-  6:40:38

Pedantic mode

Options -p --pedantic will print the coefficients of the units expressed in the system S (system G for surfaces and volumes) making the output more closely mimic the way the measurements were actually inscribed on the clay tablets, but it complicates things for the modern reader:

$ mtlookup -t V '128 gan 133 se' -p
(7 bur 2 iku) gan (2 ges 1 u 3 dis) se  ->  3:33:20:0:44:20

$ mtlookup -t V 3:33:20:0:44:20 -pr

Looking for  Babylonian volume meassurements with abstract =  3:33:20:0:44:20
    Base unit:  gin
========================================================
(1536001 sargal 2 saru 8 sar 4 buru) gan  <-  3:33:20:0:44:20
(25600 sargal 1 sar 2 buru 8 bur 2 ese) gan  <-  3:33:20:0:44:20
(426 sargal 4 saru 1 bur 1 ese 2 iku) gan (1 ges) sar  <-  3:33:20:0:44:20
(7 sargal 6 sar 4 buru) gan (4 u 4 dis) sar (2 u) gin  <-  3:33:20:0:44:20
(7 sar 6 bur 2 ese) gan (4 u 4 dis) gin (1 ges) se  <-  3:33:20:0:44:20
(7 bur 2 iku) gan (2 ges 1 u 3 dis) se  <-  3:33:20:0:44:20
(2 iku) gan (1 u 3 dis) sar (2 u) gin (2 dis) se  <-  3:33:20:0:40
(3 dis) sar (3 u 3 dis) gin (1 ges) se  <-  3:33:20

Fractions

Use the -F0 option to have the output use the fractions 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 5/6', -F1 to also include the fraction 1/6:

$ mtlookup -t L 1.30 -r -F0

Looking for  Babylonian length meassurements with abstract =  1.30
    Base unit:  ninda
========================================================
10800 danna  <-  1:30
180 danna  <-  1:30
3 danna  <-  1:30
1 1/2 us  <-  1:30
1 1/2 ninda  <-  1:30
9 susi  <-  1:30
$

You may combine it with -p (pedantic mode):

$ mtlookup -t L 1.30 -r -pF1

Looking for  Babylonian length meassurements with abstract =  1.30
    Base unit:  ninda
========================================================
(3 sar) danna  <-  1:30
(3 ges) danna  <-  1:30
(3 dis) danna  <-  1:30
(1 dis) 1/2 us  <-  1:30
(1 dis) 1/2 ninda  <-  1:30
1/6 kus (4 dis) susi  <-  1:30
$

mtlookup tutorial