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From: Ed P <esp@snet.n>
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
Subject: Re: Dinner Tonight, 1/31/2025
Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2025 09:32:49 -0500
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On 2/6/2025 7:10 AM, Salvador Mirzo wrote:

> That's also very interesting.  I've heard that salt has even been used
> as money.  (Is that true?  Is it true that the word salary comes from
> ``salt''?)
That was before they invented mining equipment and now dig out tons 
every day.

Ancient Rome: Roman soldiers were paid in salt, which was known as 
salarium. The phrase "worth his salt" comes from this practice.
Ethiopia: Salt bars were used as legal tender, small change, and for 
barter. Ethiopians were known for their ability to accurately break off 
small amounts of salt.
Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt: Salt was used as a form of currency for 
exchanging goods and services.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Moorish merchants traded salt and gold at the same 
value per ounce as early as the 6th century.
Ancient Mayans: Salt was used as money as early as 2,500 years ago.
Moscow: Salt was the main standard of value, medium of exchange, and 
store of value after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Timbuktu: Salt was valued as highly as books and gold by merchants in 
12th century Timbuktu.
Salt was highly valued because it was essential for preservation, but 
its production was limited.