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Around 250 denarii was paid to the Roman soldier every four months. It was called his "stipendium". Out of this sum he had to pay for food, his share of fodder for the contubernium mule, boots (if needed) other clothing (if needed) and his share of any camp festivals. Some periods he could come up with very little to show for his four months of army life, so it was not a very high paying job. Donatives and other bonuses added to his income, but half of all these donatives had to be deposited in his account. At the end of his service, he received a bonus and all the money that was saved in his account.
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How much did the roman soldiers get payed?
The amount varied over time, but a good average would be 200 denarii a month. The denarii was a silver coin similar to the US dollar as the basis of the Roman monetary system.You can gauge this against the cost of some common items:A bath or haircut would cost you around 2 denarii.A loaf of bread cost around 5-10 denarii.A tailor could make around 25-50 denarii a day.A pair of good leather work shoes cost between 100-150 denarii.A cow could go for around 500 denarii a head.A slave could cost anywhere from 20,000 denarii and higher.Of course, the monetary system wildly fluctuated over the years, so there is no definative answer unless you get very specific with the time you are talking about. However, saying 200 denarii a month is a good ballpark figure to answer your question.
Where does the word salary came from?
At one time the [SALE] salt was not very much availableas today is. Roman soldiers were paid in salt being necessary for good health. Of course the roman latin word has changed to by the English as salary.
Why were roman army's paid in salt?
It is unlikely For nearly 350 years of Roman history the soldiers were not paid because the Roman army was a citizen militia. Pay for the soldiers was introduced in 405 B.C., when Rome was at war with Veii, the nearby Etruscan city-sate. The ancient Greek historian Polybius wrote that during the Second Punic War in the 3rd century B.C., the soldiers received two Greek obols a day, which was probably the equivalent of five Roman asses, which were worth was about half a denarius. This would have meant a pay of 180 denarii (plural of denarius) a year. A devaluation of the as in 122 B.C. lead to a decrease in the value of the pay to 112 ½ denarii a year. Polybius also mentioned that money for food and clothing was deducted from the pay. Julius Caesar doubled the pay which was said to have risen to 225 denarii a year. The emperor Domitian (reigned 81-96 A.D.) increased it to 300 denarii a year. The Roman writer Pliny the Elder wrote: "Even in the very honours, too, that are bestowed upon successful warfare, salt plays its part, and from it, our word "salarium" is derived". Because of this some people have argued that salarium (which is the root of the English word salary and which is derived from sal, the Latin for salt) was the name of the pay of the soldiers and argued that in the early days of Rome the soldiers were paid in salt. However, the Roman historian Livy, writing about the introduction of pay for the soldiers in 405 B.C., said "ut stipendium miles de publico acciperet" (so the soldiers received a stipendium for the public [purse]). Therefore, the name of the pay of the soldiers was stipendium, not salarium. The word salarium, instead, referred to all the provisions which the Roman officers (not the ordinary officers) were supplied, as well as their pay in money. It was part of a package of supplies and pay which Augustus introduced for the governors of the Romans provinces (who commanded the legions stationed in the provinces) and military officers to put them in a greater state of dependence on him. Moreover, this happened in the late 1st century B.C./early 1st century B.C, not in the early days of Roman history. As for Pliny the Elder's words, they seems to suggest that salt was given as a reward for victorious war, rather than as pay. Salt was a very important commodity because it was used as a food preservative.
Why salt is called salt?
The words salt in English, sel in French, sare in Romanian, etc. are derived from the Latin language word salarium (equivalent of salary). Salarium was the amount of money payed to Roman soldiers to buy salt.
Did the ancient Romans use ancient Greek drachma?
Yes, at times they did. The value of the money was in the metal of the coin. If the drachma had the same amount of metal as the Roman coin, it was used. There are even records of the Roman army being paid in drachmas rather than denarii.
What did the roman call there money?
denarii
What is the names of ancient roman money?
Denarius (denarii) and sesterci!
What was a roman slave worth?
They could range from 2000 denarii to 6000 denarii. But later the boy slaves where lots of denarii!!!
What are roman dollars called?
Denarii
What minerals did roman soldiers receive bags of?
Salt. In fact, the word "salary" comes from the salt roman Soldiers were payed with.
What does the word 'salary' mean in Latin?
The root of salary is salt. Roman soldiers were sometimes paid their wages in salt.
What is the derivation of the world salary?
Roman soldiers were paid in salt. Salt = sale in Latin. therfore, salaria = salary
What modern word comes from the rations given to Roman soldiers?
Salarium - Salary
How did the word salary become invented?
roman soldiers were traditionally paid in salt.
Where Did Roman Soldiers Keep Their Money?
They spent it.
How much did the roman soldiers get payed?
The amount varied over time, but a good average would be 200 denarii a month. The denarii was a silver coin similar to the US dollar as the basis of the Roman monetary system.You can gauge this against the cost of some common items:A bath or haircut would cost you around 2 denarii.A loaf of bread cost around 5-10 denarii.A tailor could make around 25-50 denarii a day.A pair of good leather work shoes cost between 100-150 denarii.A cow could go for around 500 denarii a head.A slave could cost anywhere from 20,000 denarii and higher.Of course, the monetary system wildly fluctuated over the years, so there is no definative answer unless you get very specific with the time you are talking about. However, saying 200 denarii a month is a good ballpark figure to answer your question.
What is a tenth of a denarius?
According to World English Dictionary, a Denarius is a Roman gold coin equal to 25 silver denarii. So, a tenth of a denarius equals 2.5 denarii.
