A brief history of the balance in society

One of the earliest measuring instruments used by human beings was the bala nce; evidence of this dates back more than 5.000 years. Initially, the weig hts of goods were measures rather of value than of mass. Besides yardsticks and graduated cups, scales are today the most widespread instruments, foun d in almost all laboratories, factories and households. Indeed, the balance accompanies us from birth to death. The balance very early achieved a metaphorical meaning and was used for the comparison of ethical values. It first appeared as an instrument in the de ath tribunal in Egyptian religion and later in Christianity. In the hands o f the Grecian Gods, weighing was a deciding factor as concerns victory or d eath. In Judaism and for the Romans, scales become the symbol of justice. S everal trade and handicraft guilds currently use the balance as an attribut e, demonstrating in this way their sincerity and accuracy. The balance is o f dubious significance in astrology, as one of the signs of the zodiac.