The Roman Senate- The Salt Law...and others

As you walk through the ruins of the Forum, the ancient Roman empire's political hub, you can imagine yourself back in those times, a new member of the Senate, moving about with great anticipation and with grand ideals of the impact you can make on society and the world, delivering to all cititizens the Pax Romana. It becomes all to obvious then why they made a law against cooking bread with salt and another against cooling yourself off at public fountains.

When we break down the salt law we go first to our word 'salary', which has is roots in the Italian 'salare' which means 'salt'. Salt was part of the payment for soldiers in the army, and why...because your need to salt your food because it has no flavor, its really quite ingenius.

I would say that you may be surprised to find that they dont bring you olive oil with your bread either. Here's a tip if you dont' have your own, order a caprese salad (for which they will bust you out some olive oil,salt,pepper..)
Now that you've managed to get bread(Roman bread is stale, Firenze is fresh btw), salt, Olive oil, What will you do about the heat? Why not join everyone else at the local foundtain ! Why? because its illegal....just like salty bread.