The amah of which [the Rabbis] spoke is a medium amah. Two [one-] amah [measuring sticks] were [kept] in Shushan HaBirah, one at [its] northeastern corner, and one at [its] southeastern corner. [The one] at the northeastern corner was longer than [the amah] of Moses by a half-fingerbreadth. [The one] at the southeastern corner was longer than that one by [another] half-fingerbreadth; [this second measuring stick] is thus found to be longer than [the amah] of Moses by a full fingerbreadth. And why did [the Rabbis] speak of one large [amah measure] and one small [amah measure]? So that the craftsmen would take [contracts] according to the small [amah measure] and return [the finished products] according to the large [amah measure], in order that they should not come to [commit] me’ilah.

R’ Meir says: All amos [mentioned in the context of the Temple] refer to medium amos, except for the [amos] of the Golden Altar, horn, ledge, and base [of the Olah Altar]. R’ Yehudah says: The amah of the [Temple] structure [measured] six handbreadths, but that of the utensils [measured] five [handbreadths].

There are instances in which [the Rabbis] spoke of a small measure: Liquid and dry measures were prescribed in accordance with Italian [measures], which are [the same as] Wilderness [ones]. There are instances in which [the Sages] stated [that measurements vary] according to the [size of the] individual: One who performs kemitzah on a minchah-offering, and one who scoops up the incense, one who drinks [a quantity equal to] the fill of his cheeks on Yom Kippur, and the food for two meals for an eruv [techumin]. One’s food for a weekday, but not for the Sabbath, [these are] the words of R’ Meir. R’ Yehudah says: [One’s food] for the Sabbath, but not for a weekday. And both this one and this one intend to rule leniently. R’ Shimon says: Two thirds of a loaf of which there are three to a kav. R’ Yochanan ben Berokah says: A loaf worth a pundyon, when four se’ahs cost a sela.

There are instances in which [the Sages] spoke of a large measure: A ladleful of corpse-dust [is measured against] a full, big physicians’ ladle. The split bean of negaim [is measured against] a split Cilician bean. One who eats on Yom Kippur the volume of a large date [is liable if he ate] the equivalent of it and its pit. The measure of skin-bottles of wine and oil [to lose their tumah] is [a hole] the size of their large whorl. [Regarding] a window that was not made by a person, its measure [to spread tumah] is the size of a large fist; that is, the fist of Ben Battiach. R’ Yose said: [That fist] has [the same proportions] as a large human head. [Regarding a window] that was made by a person, its measure [to spread tumah] is the size of [the hole made by] the large auger of the [Temple] chamber. This is [as large] as an Italian pundyon, and [is also as large] as a Neronian sela; and [is also as large] as the hole