| Platapus |
09-25-15 04:43 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Betonov
(Post 2347049)
|
Interesting in the same context as reading Stephen King is interesting.. it may be interesting to read, but not factual.
Salary comes from the Latin salārium meaning money for salt.
The Latin suffix "ium" is used to create to form abstract nouns. So in this case the suffix indicates that the money is not in the form of salt, but in a abstract noun form for or about salt.
At that time salt was an essential part of food that had to be purchased through official salt vendors, where as other food products could be locally obtained.
The Roman Empire/republic set and controlled the price of salt and used the prices as form of government funding. There were strict laws governing who could sell and how they could sell salt. As the official price of salt flucated, so did the amount of money paid to military hence a Salarium or money to buy salt.
The Salt industry factored high in the economy and even history of the Roman empires.
The same concept exists in today's military. Often our military members are paid additional money (Basic Allotment for Substance) or commonly called "Separate Rations". In these cases, the military does not give the military member actual food, but money to purchase food
Way more than anyone really wanted to know about this salty topic. :03: |
