Our pay is called a 'salary,' but were Roman soldiers really paid in salt?

Our pay is called a 'salary,' but were Roman soldiers really paid in salt?

Every other Wednesday, like clockwork, my salary arrives in my bank account. By Thursday, most of it is gone.

Our pay is called a ‘salary’, but were Roman soldiers really paid in salt?

Manakin/GettyEvery second Wednesday, like clockwork, my salary arrives in my bank account. By Thursday, most of it is gone. Recently, though, as I contemplated its fortnightly appearance and disappearance, I started thinking about the origin of the word “salary”. As a historian of the ancient Roman Empire, I often think about the modern legacy it continues to bestow. It’s a common belief that the English word “salary” derives from the Latin word…