“Attic salt” is an expression that is not so common in everyday speech. Rather, it can be called a book. Looking ahead, we note that it is connected with the name of Mark Tullius Cicero, a famous Roman orator. What do they mean when they want to "sprinkle" such salt?
Athenian wit
To understand the meaning of the phraseology “Attic salt”, it would be advisable to first parse each of its constituent words separately.
Regarding the adjective “attic”, the dictionary says what it means:
- Firstly, it is associated with the noun "Attica";
- secondly - refined, refined.
Attica is an ancient Greek word that designates a coastal country. It is located in the southeast of Central Greece. In ancient times, it was the most centralized region with the main city - Athens, where the administration, court, and national assembly were located, where all state affairs were decided. Attica's role in politics and culture was great. It was believed that it was there that the best masters of eloquence lived, which was then at a great price. They were also distinguished by subtle wit.
Another meaning of "salt"
Everyone knows the substance, which in the conversation is called "table salt", which is sodium chloride. It not only gives taste to food, human life is simply impossible without it. Therefore, the value of salt is difficult to overestimate.
In this regard, when using the word in a figurative sense, they mean the essence, the basis, the most important thing, the quintessence of something, the best part. And also in a figurative sense, this is what makes the story acute, a joke, speech, speech in general, their brightness, zest.
We proceed directly to the phraseological unit itself.
Opinion of Cicero
It is he who is considered the author of the expression "Attic salt". Based on the above, it can be understood that its meaning is a subtle, elegant joke, mockery, sharpness. The ability to use all this in a speech, as already noted, was distinguished by the Athenians, the inhabitants of Attica. Cicero, a renowned speaker, agreed with this opinion.
Like the ancient Greeks, the Romans believed that without wit, speech could not be considered good. In Rome they said that cum gratio sails - “a grain of salt” or “salt of wit” - must be present in it.
In 55 BC e. Cicero wrote an essay entitled "On the Orator." It examined the oratory owned by the Greeks from Attica. In particular, it was noted that they have the ability to make listeners laugh where the speaker needs. It was this high skill that was repeatedly called Cicero the Attic salt.