Siclus
/ˈsɪk.ləs/noun
An ancient unit of weight or coin, especially the Latin form of shekel.
Did you know?The Latin siclus appears in the Vulgate Bible as a rendering of the Hebrew shekel, a monetary unit associated with temple dues and sacred commerce.
Etymological Timeline
2nd Millennium BCE
Akkadian
šiqlu
“A unit of weight, from a Semitic root connected with weighing.”
Iron Age
Hebrew
šeqel
“A standard weight and later a monetary unit; the word derives from Hebrew š-q-l, “to weigh.””
5th–4th Century BCE
Ancient Greek
σίγλος (síglos)
“A Persian silver coin or monetary unit, borrowed through ancient Near Eastern usage.”
Classical Latin
Latin
siclus
“A shekel, especially a unit of weight or coin mentioned in biblical and Near Eastern contexts.”
16th Century onward
English
siclus
“A learned historical term for an ancient shekel or its Latin equivalent.”