Before you study the information below, it is helpful to understand that professions were valued differently in ancient times than they are today. Likewise, the value of items was different then than now. For instance, in today's world, one might spend 20% of their total income on food, but in ancient times the cost may have been 50% or more of one's total income.
In fact, during parts of the history of Rome, food costs were so high that without free wheat subsidies from the government, the common people would not have been able to survive! These subsidies were known as ‘doles' and according to AEJ Morris'sHistory of Urban Form[1970 George Godwin LTD], up to 1/3 of the citizens of the capital city received this public assistance.
Grain formed the foundation of the common Roman's diet. It was not uncommon for grain to be the only thing a poor Roman ever ate. The cost of baking bread was very high to a poor Roman, so if no access to a communal, public oven could be had, the grain would be crushed and made into a porridge known as ‘puls' that was likely similar in taste and texture to modern polenta. While we take it for granted today, meat was an extravagant luxury that most Romans could not afford to indulge in.
Clothing was another expensive proposition. One‘libra'(Roman pound, just under of a modern pound, 326 grams), of fine silk cost more than a dozen human beings. It seems absurd to us today, but such was the case, because ancient Romans lacked the production machines of today that make cheap fabric possible. For the commoners, fashion was not a consideration. Clothing was utilitarian, had to be durable, and was patched until finally the garment became the thing from which patches were taken for its replacement.
Historically, the cost of living has expanded to consume all of the income that is available to the majority of the people in the society. As technology has enabled faster production, technology has also introduced new things to consume the income the increased productivity creates. The ancient Romans did not have many things to pay for in comparison to life today, yet it was every bit as much a struggle for them to survive as it is today, and probably, it was even more of a struggle.
As you read the data below, consider what you might have been in ancient Rome. Would you have been a carpenter? A mason? Would you have been fortunate enough to receive an education and become an advocate (ancient equivalent of the modern lawyer)? Pick your profession, and then take a look at the kind of food and clothing you would have been able to afford. You might gain a new appreciation for modern life!
All the prices and wages are listed indenariicommunes, which were not actually silverdenariias we usually think of when discussing ancient Roman coinage. Denarii communes, or d.c., were notational currency. What this means is, an exchange rate was given, telling how much of the currency in circulation at that time (nummi) it took to equal one d.c. This made it easy to change the value of the money in circulation, without having to rewrite and redistribute the entire edict. A series of exchange tables are at the end of this handout.
* FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS - SEE SHORTER VERSION pp 9 and 10 *
Wages in 301 AD in theRoman Empire
All data based on Diocletian's "Edict of Maximum Prices" issued in
301 AD
General Laborers
brick maker, for every 4 fired bricks and preparation of
the clay....................... 2brick maker, for every 8 sun dried bricks, and preparation of the clay............... 2
clerk (based on specified bath attendant wage)................................................. 25
farm laborer, with maintenance......................................................................... 25
lime burner, with maintenance........................................................................... 50
mule driver, camel driver, with maintenance...................................................... 25
sewer cleaner, working a full day, with maintenance.......................................... 25
shepherd, with maintenance.............................................................................. 25
water carrier, working a full day, with maintenance........................................... 25
all other general labor....................................................................................... 25
Skilled Laborers
barber, per customer....................................................................................... 2cabinet maker, with maintenance...................................................................... 50
carpenter, with maintenance, daily.................................................................... 50
stone mason, with maintenance......................................................................... 50
figure painter, with maintenance........................................................................ 150
fuller (Wool weaver), per cloak........................................................................ 175
marble paving and walls custodian, with maintenance........................................ 60
wall mosaics worker, with maintenance............................................................ 60
model maker, with maintenance........................................................................ 75
other plaster worker, with maintenance................................................. 50
parchment maker, for a quaternion, white or yellow parchment......................... 40
shipwright of a river vessel, with maintenance.................................................... 50
shipwright of a seagoing vessel, with maintenance............................................. 60
tessellated floormaker , with maintenance......................................................... 50
wagon blacksmith, with maintenance................................................................ 50
wagonwright, with maintenance........................................................................ 50
wall painter, with maintenance.......................................................................... 75
Professionals advocate, for opening a case............................................................................ 250
for pleading a case........................................................................................... 1000
scribe, for the best writing 100 lines.................................................................. 25
for second quality writing..................................................................... 20
secretary......................................................................................................... 35
notary, for writing a petition or legal document.................................................. 10
Teachers in
AncientRome
A
teacher in ancient Rome would have lived in the home of a wealthy patrician, who
would have provided the teacher with food and clothing appropriate to the
house. The teacher would not have had
much spending money, but would have lived comfortably just the same. These are salaries indenariiper month, per student.
elementary teacher............................................................................... 50
arithmetic teacher................................................................................. 75
Greek, Latin literature or geometry....................................................... 200
teacher of rhetoric (public speaking)..................................................... 250
Soldiers in Ancient Rome
Soldiering was one of the best ways a Roman male could provide for his family. The base wage was low, not enough to live on. Four times a year, a soldier received a "donative" greater than his annual base pay. Additionally, soldiers received an annual "annona" subsidy for grain purchases. The best soldiers hoped to be recruited to the Praetorian Guard, the soldiers who guarded the emperor. These soldiers were paid roughly 3 times the base wage of the average soldier, and likely enjoyed many additional privileges as well.Soldiers had high expenses in their profession, but they still came out much better than the average citizen even after expenses. The soldiers were expected to pay for much of their own equipment, rations, and clothing. They even had to pay part of the cost of burial for their fallen from their unit.
Soldiers' Pay:
average Roman soldier,annually........................................................................ 1800
Praetorian Guard, annually............................................................................... 5500
annual grain annona (1 per year)....................................................................... 600
donative (4 per year)....................................................................................... 2500
Additionally, every soldier received a grain allotment of
30 modii of wheat per year that would be worth................................... 3000
Total Annual Pay for an average Roman Soldier............................................... 15,400
For a Praetorian Guard.................................................................................... 19,100
Compare that to a general laborer working 305 days a year.................................................. 7625
Soldiers' Costs:boots, without hobnails.................................................................................... 100
shoes, soldiers................................................................................................. 75
saddle............................................................................................................. 500
polisher, for a sword........................................................................................ 25
for a helmet.............................................................................................. 25
for an axe................................................................................................. 6
for a double axe........................................................................................ 8
for a sword scabbard................................................................................ 100
Prices in 301 AD in theRoman Empire
All data based on Diocletian's "Edict of Maximum Prices" issued in
301 AD
The Edict of Maximum Prices was an
attempt to control runaway inflation and poverty in the Empire. The penalty for exceeding the prices of the
Edict was severe: death. Not satisfied
to execute just the seller, Diocletian decreed that the buyer was to be
executed as well. As a final measure, if
a seller refused to sell his goods at the stated price, the penalty was death.
Food
Dry Foods
Prices refer to one modius unless otherwise indicated. 1 modius=8 liters dry measure.
alfalfa seed...................................................................................................... 150barley.............................................................................................................. 60
barley, cleaned................................................................................................ 100
beans.............................................................................................................. 60
beans, crushed................................................................................................. 100
chickpeas........................................................................................................ 100
flaxseed........................................................................................................... 150
hayseed........................................................................................................... 30
lentils............................................................................................................... 100
millet, crushed.................................................................................................. 100
millet, whole.................................................................................................... 50
oats................................................................................................................. 30
peas, crushed.................................................................................................. 100
peas................................................................................................................ 60
rice, cleaned.................................................................................................... 200
rye.................................................................................................................. 60
salt.................................................................................................................. 100
sesame............................................................................................................ 200
wheat.............................................................................................................. 100
Fruits & Vegetables
cabbage or lettuce, head.................................................................................. 1-2 ½
dessert grapes, libra......................................................................................... 1
fenugreek, modius............................................................................................ 100
peaches, one, up to.......................................................................................... 1-2 ½
Prices in 301 AD in theRoman Empire
Food (continued)
Meats and Fish Prices refer to one libra unless otherwise noted. 1 libra=326 grams or just under pound.beef................................................................................................................. 8
chicken............................................................................................................ 60
fish, freshwater................................................................................................ 12
second quality...................................................................................... 8
fish, saltwater................................................................................................... 25
second quality...................................................................................... 16
goose, fattened................................................................................................ 200
not fattened......................................................................................... 100
goat................................................................................................................. 12
lamb................................................................................................................ 12
pheasant, depending on variety......................................................................... 125-250
pork................................................................................................................ 12
sausage, depending on variety.......................................................................... 10-16
Wine, Beer & Oil
Prices refer to one sextarius. 1 sextarius=1.14 Pints or .546 liters
beer, Celtic or Pannonian................................................................................. 4Egyptian.............................................................................................. 2
Aminean, Falernian, Picene, Sabine, Tiburtine regional wines............................ 30
aged wine........................................................................................................ 24
second quality...................................................................................... 16
chrysattic wine................................................................................................. 24
Maeonian wine, boiled down one-third............................................................. 30
must, boiled down........................................................................................... 16
must, boiled down one-half.............................................................................. 20
rose wine......................................................................................................... 20
spiced wine..................................................................................................... 24
wine with wormwood...................................................................................... 20
vin ordinaire (ordinary wine)............................................................................. 8
olive oil, fresh.................................................................................................. 40
second quality...................................................................................... 24
liquamen (fish sauce seasoning)........................................................................ 16
second quality...................................................................................... 12
vinegar and wine vinegar.................................................................................. 6
Prices in 301 AD
in theRoman Empire
ClothingFabric
Prices are per item or libra for raw
materials.
African cloak................................................................................................... 500
Dalmatian tunic................................................................................................ 2000
hooded cloak, Laodicean................................................................................. 4500
soldier's winter tunic........................................................................................ 75
wool from Tarentum........................................................................................ 75
white silk......................................................................................................... 12,000
purple silk†..................................................................................................... 150,000
†Purple silk was to be used only at the direction of the Emperor under penalty of death.
Boots and Shoes boots for mule drivers or farm workers, without hobnails.................................. 120
boots for soldiers, without hobnails................................................................... 100
women's boots................................................................................................ 60
patrician's shoes.............................................................................................. 150
senatorial shoes............................................................................................... 100
equestrian's shoes............................................................................................ 70
soldier's shoes................................................................................................. 75
Sandals and Gallic Sandals double-soled Gallic sandals for farm workers................................................... 80
single soled Gallic sandals................................................................................ 50
Gallic sandals for runners................................................................................. 60
women's oxhide sandals double-soled.............................................................. 50
Sketch
by Marvin Tameanko of actual Roman
Jug found during
an excavation inLondon. It is inscribed /
addressed to
"TheTempleofIsisinLondon"
Exchange Rates of Currency toDenarii Communes
From 297 to 308 A.D.
Number ofDenarii Communesexchanged for:
Period
Coin (mat'l.) |
293-300
|
300-301
|
301-307
|
Aureus(gold) |
600
|
1200
|
2400
|
Argenteus(silver)
|
25
|
50
|
100
|
Nummus‡ (billon)
|
5
|
12.5
|
25
|
Radiate (billon)
|
2
|
2.5
|
5
|
Laureate (bronze)
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
To determine the buying power of the currencies above for a given time period, compare the exchange rate of the actual currency to the prices or wages listed on the preceding pages indenarii communesusing the formula below:
(Price
from list in d.c.) X (Number of coins exchanged perd.c.from chart above) = Cost or Wage in actual currency
Suggestions for further reading
Tenney Frank,Economic Survey of AncientRome (Baltimore, 1940)Jo-Ann Shelton,As The Romans Did (New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1998)
SHORTER VERSION FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS
Wages and Food
Costs in AncientRome
Common Food Items
and their Prices in 301 AD
During
the reign of Diocletian
| Barley, Rye | 60 Denarii per Modius |
| Beans, Crushed | 100 Denaris per Modius |
| Beans, Whole | 60 Denarii per Modius |
| Beef, Mutton or Goat | 8 Denarii per Libra |
| Beer | 2 to 4 Denarii per Libra |
| Cabbage and Lettuce | 1 to 2 Quintarius |
| Cheese | 8 Denarii per Libra |
| Chickens | 30 Denarii |
| Eggs | 1 Denarius |
| Fish, River | 8 to 10 Denarii per Libra |
| Fish, Sea | 15 to 25 Denarii per Libra |
| Goose | 100 to 200 Denarii |
| Ham | 20 Denarii per Libra |
| Honey | 10 to 40 Denarii per Sextarius |
| Lentil Beans | 100 Denarii per Modius |
| Sausage | 10 to 16 Denarii per Libra |
| Olive Oil | 40 Denarii per Sextarius |
| Peaches | 1 to 2 Quintarius |
| Pheasant | 125 to 250 Denarii |
| Pork or Lamb | 12 Denarii per Libra |
| Rice, cleaned | 200 Denarii per Modius |
| Salt | 100 Denarii per Modius |
| Wheat | 100 Denarii per Modius |
| Wine | 16 to 30 Denarii per Sextarius |
Common Professions
and Their Wages
In Ancient Rome
| Artist, mosaic worker | 50 - 60 Denarii per day |
| Barber | 2 Denarii per customer |
| Bath Attendant | 20 -25 Denarii per day |
| Carpenter | 50 Denarii per day |
| Farm Laborer | 25 Denarii per day † |
| Fortune Teller | 20 - 25 Denarii per day |
| Fuller (Wool weaver) | 175 Denarii per cloak |
| Linen Weaver | 20 - 40 Denarii per day † |
| Manual Laborer | 25 Denarii per day |
| Messenger | 18 - 20 Denarii per day |
| Scribe | 1 Denarius per 5 - 7 lines |
| Secretary | 30 - 35 Denarii per day |
| Skilled Tradesman | 35 - 75 Denarii per day |
| Stone Mason | 50 Denarii per day |
| Teacher, elementary | 50 Denarii per month ‡ |
| Teacher, advanced | 250 Denarii per month ‡ |
Soldiers in AncientRome:
Soldiering was one of the best ways a Roman male could provide for his family. The base wage was low, not enough to live on. Recognizing the importance of the soldiers, the emperors paid what can be equated to a quarterly bonus. Four times a year, a soldier received a "donative" greater than his annual base pay! Additionally, soldiers received an annual "annona" subsidy for grain purchases. Furthermore, the best soldiers may have been recruited to the Praetorian Guard, the soldiers who guarded the emperor. These soldiers were paid roughly 3 times the base wage of the average soldier. Praetorian Guards were respected and feared, even by the emperor himself, and likely enjoyed many additional privileges as well.
Soldiers' Base Pay: 1800 Denarii per year Praetorian Guard: 5500 Denarii per year
Annual Grain Annona: 600 Denarii per year
Donative (4 per year) 2500 Denarii
Grain allotment 30 Modii of wheat per year
† Some employers supplemented the salaries of these professions with "Keep". That meant that the worker was allowed to retain some of what they produced- usually scrap or in the case of grain, what could be carried from the ground at day's end. This was a huge benefit to the worker... and perhaps the source of the phrase "Earns his keep."
‡ The teaching professions were paid the amount shown per student. Teaching was done in the homes of the wealthy patrons who hired the teacher for one-on-one educating. The style resembled today's tutoring more than the Greek or current models of classrooms of many students. Thus, teachers were paid poorly. It is assumed that room and board were often provided.
