Using the prices listed and assuming a 10 hour work day, one denarius was worth:... | Hacker News

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iamelgringo on Feb 8, 2009 | parent | context | favorite | on: What things cost in ancient Rome

Using the prices listed and assuming a 10 hour work day, one denarius was worth:

   1/4 of a decent beer, or 1/2 of a Egyptian beer
   1/2 an ounce of Pork Mincemeat
   1/12th of an Italian pound of Venison
   1/2 a bath

With a 10 hour day, laborers made:

    2.5 denarii an hour for farm labor
    5 denarii an hour for carpentry
    2.5 denarii an hour for data entry (scribing)
    1.5 denarii an hour for entry level teaching
        (assuming 10 pupils and 10 hour workday

supahfly_remix on Feb 9, 2009 [–]

Thanks -- it's interesting that the professions presumably requiring some form of literacy (scribing, teaching) pay less than carpentry.

smhinsey on Feb 10, 2009 | [–]

i have no real basis for making this claim, but i suspect that it's more along the lines of "master carpenter" or the equivalent.

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