The English word “salary” comes from the Latin salarium (from sal, salt), referring to the early Roman soldier’s wages, part of which was an allowance of salt. The Greeks paid for slaves with salt, giving rise to the expression “not worth his salt.”During the Middle Ages, certain superstitions developed around salt. The spilling of salt was considered to be a portent of doom. Did the value of salt fluctuate according to a persons belief, or was it universally agreed to be essential to maintaining good health?
“You are the salt of the earth,” said Jesus to his disciples. (Matthew 5:13)
