Fathom to Roman Mile Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert fathoms to Roman miles with our free online length converter.
Fathom to Roman Mile Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Fathom).
- The converted value in Roman Mile will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Fathom to Roman Mile
Converting Fathom to Roman Mile involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Fathom = 0.00123568 Roman milesExample Calculation:
Convert 10 fathoms: 10 × 0.00123568 = 0.0123568 Roman miles
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
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What is a Fathom and a Roman Mile?
The Fathom (symbol fath) is a unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems of measurement, defined as exactly 6 feet (ft). This is equivalent to 2 yards or 1.8288 meters (m). It is almost exclusively used in maritime contexts for measuring the depth of water.
The Roman Mile (mille passus, meaning "thousand paces"; symbol m.p.) was the standard Roman unit for measuring longer distances.
It was defined as 1,000 Roman paces (passus).
Since one passus (a double step) was equal to 5 Roman feet (pes), the Roman mile was equivalent to:
- 1,000 paces (passus)
- 5,000 Roman feet (pedes)
The exact length varied slightly depending on the precise definition of the Roman foot used, but it is typically estimated as:
- Approximately 1,480 meters (m)
- Approximately 1.48 kilometers (km)
- Approximately 0.919 statute miles (mi)
- Approximately 4,856 feet (ft) (using a common estimate for the Roman foot)
Note: The Fathom is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Roman Mile belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Fathom and Roman Mile
The word "fathom" originates from the Old English word fæthm, meaning "a pair of outstretched arms" or "embrace". Historically, the length was derived from the distance between the fingertips of a man's outstretched arms, a practical method for sailors measuring the length of a sounding line (a rope with a weight used to measure water depth) as they hauled it in. This naturally variable measure was eventually standardized to precisely 6 feet. For centuries, it was the primary unit for depth soundings on nautical charts and in maritime operations in English-speaking countries and beyond. While its official use has declined with metrication, it remains a significant unit in nautical tradition.
The Roman mile was established during the Roman Republic and Empire and was used extensively throughout Roman territories for measuring roads, distances between cities, and military movements. Roman roads were famously marked with milestones (miliarium) indicating the distance in Roman miles, often back to the Milliarium Aureum (Golden Milestone) in the Forum Romanum.
The Roman mile significantly influenced the development of the mile unit in other countries, including the English statute mile, although the lengths eventually diverged.
Common Uses for fathoms and Roman miles
Explore the typical applications for both Fathom (imperial/US) and Roman Mile (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for fathoms
The fathom's use is strongly tied to the sea:
- Hydrography & Navigation: Measuring water depth (soundings) on nautical charts. Many charts, particularly older ones or those used in the US and UK, still use fathoms. Contour lines showing seabed depth are often called "fathom lines".
- Nautical Terminology: Used historically to measure the length of ropes and anchor cables (e.g., a "cable length" was often defined as 100 or 120 fathoms).
- Commercial Fishing: Sometimes used by fishermen to describe the length of nets or fishing lines, or the depth at which they are fishing.
- Literature & Figurative Language: Frequently appears in maritime literature (e.g., "full fathom five" from Shakespeare's The Tempest). Metaphorically, "to fathom" means to comprehend or get to the bottom of something complex.
- Historical Land Measurement: Very occasionally used in historical land surveying or mining contexts, but this was rare compared to its maritime use.
Common Uses for Roman miles
- Historical Measurement: Used ubiquitously in the Roman Empire for all land distances.
- Historical Texts: Essential for understanding distances mentioned in Roman literature, historical accounts, and geographical works.
- Archaeology: Used to interpret Roman road networks, milestone placements, and site layouts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Fathom (fath)
How many feet are in a fathom?
There are exactly 6 feet (ft) in 1 fathom.
How many meters are in a fathom?
One fathom is equal to exactly 1.8288 meters (m).
Is the fathom an SI unit?
No, the fathom is not an SI unit. It is part of the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The corresponding SI unit for length is the meter (m).
Is the fathom still commonly used today?
Its usage has decreased significantly due to the widespread adoption of the metric system in international shipping and hydrography. However, it remains common on nautical charts produced by countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, and it persists in recreational boating, commercial fishing communities, maritime tradition, and literature. Modern international charts increasingly use meters for depth soundings.
Where does the word 'fathom' come from?
The word originates from the Old English fæthm, which referred to the span of a person's outstretched arms. This distance was the practical basis for the original measurement used by sailors.
About Roman Mile (m.p.)
How long was a Roman Mile compared to a modern mile?
A Roman mile (approx. 1480 m) was shorter than the modern international statute mile (1609.344 m). A Roman mile is about 92% the length of a modern statute mile.
What does 'mille passus' mean?
It's Latin for "a thousand paces". Mille means thousand, and passus refers to the Roman pace (a double step of 5 Roman feet).
How many feet were in a Roman Mile?
There were 5,000 Roman feet (pedes) in one Roman mile.
Is the Roman Mile still used?
No, the Roman mile is obsolete and not used for any modern measurements. It is purely a historical unit. Modern distances are measured in kilometers or statute miles.
Conversion Table: Fathom to Roman Mile
| Fathom (fath) | Roman Mile (m.p.) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 5 | 0.006 |
| 10 | 0.012 |
| 25 | 0.031 |
| 50 | 0.062 |
| 100 | 0.124 |
| 500 | 0.618 |
| 1,000 | 1.236 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)