ἀωΐλιον <Egyptian; Hellenistic period>
👉 ἀωΐλιον n. – ‘a measure of capacity in Egypt (especially used to measure earth and sand)’ (P.Petr. 2.4_11.4: 3rd c. BCE; P.Petr. 2.36_1,1.2, 15, 17 etc.: 3rd c. BCE; P.Cair.Zen. 4 59745.61: 3rd c. BCE; etc.) with some variants: ἀοΐλιον (P.Cair.Zen. 5 59848.5, 21: 3rd c. BCE), ἀγωΐλιον (PSI 4 423.6-7, 8, 11: 3rd c. BCE), αὐωΐλιον (P.Petr. 3.45_2.7 = 2.36_2.7: 3rd c. BCE; P.Petr. 3.45_4.2: 3rd c. BCE). Cf. also the derivative ἀωϊλιαστής, -οῦ m. ‘labourer (excavator of earth)’ (P.Cair.Zen. 4 59745.58: 3rd c. BCE).
⚠ This measure occurs only in papyri from Egypt.
🅔 Probably an Egyptian word, but its etymology is unknown. Cf. a hypothesis that ἀωΐλιον comes from Egyptian ꜥḥꜥ ‘heap (of offerings, grain, treasures), multitude, whole, property, store, portion’, Coptic ⲁϩⲟ (S, B), ⲁϩⲁ (F, M), ⲁϩⲟⲣ (B), ⲉϩⲟ (A, L), ⲉϩⲱ (A), pl. ⲁϩⲱⲣ (S, B, M), ⲁϩⲱⲱⲣ (S, F.), ⲉϩⲱⲣ (S, A, L) ‘treasure; treasury, store house’.
📖 Ref.: cf. Fournet 1989: 74; Mayser – Schmoll 1970: 27f.; McGready 1968: 252; Torallas Tovar 2004: 180.