08-30-2013, 06:01 AM
I did a search of the Vindolanda tablets and found this:
Vindolanda tablet 186
Does this mean they bought 85 pounds of salt for 12 asses? If so, 85 / 12 = 7, so one as would buy 7 Roman pounds of salt.
The tablet has been dated to 110 - 111 AD because it mentions consuls. At this time a legionary was paid (I think) 300 denarii a year. There were 16 asses to the denarius at this time, so a legionary was paid 300 X 16 = 4,800 asses per year. A single day's wage would be 4,800 / 365 = 13 asses. So with the wages of one day, a legionary could buy something like 91 pounds of salt (13 X 7 = 91).
If I'm doing all this correctly, it doesn't sound like salt was very expensive. Someone feel free to doublecheck my work.
Quote:December, through Audax, of salt, pounds 85+, asses 12+ (?)
Vindolanda tablet 186
Does this mean they bought 85 pounds of salt for 12 asses? If so, 85 / 12 = 7, so one as would buy 7 Roman pounds of salt.
The tablet has been dated to 110 - 111 AD because it mentions consuls. At this time a legionary was paid (I think) 300 denarii a year. There were 16 asses to the denarius at this time, so a legionary was paid 300 X 16 = 4,800 asses per year. A single day's wage would be 4,800 / 365 = 13 asses. So with the wages of one day, a legionary could buy something like 91 pounds of salt (13 X 7 = 91).
If I'm doing all this correctly, it doesn't sound like salt was very expensive. Someone feel free to doublecheck my work.
David J. Cord
www.davidcord.com
www.davidcord.com
