Cassius Loginus Posted October 20, 2007 Report Share Posted October 20, 2007 (edited) In Robert Harris's novel POMPEII mentions custom officers at Pompeii. Did they really exist and when did they start? Edited October 20, 2007 by Cassius Loginus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Paulinus Maximus Posted October 20, 2007 Report Share Posted October 20, 2007 (edited) In Robert Harris's novel POMPEII mentions custom officers at Pompeii. Did they really exist and when did they start? Custom officers did in deed exist in ancient Rome, they were there to check the quality and quantity of all goods coming into Rome. Taken from Ancient Rome in the Light of Recent Discoveries by Rodolfo Lanciani........ I have mentioned the Monte Testaccio two or three times. This singular hill, unique of its kind, rises from amidst the plain occupied by the imperial warehouses to the height of one hundred and forty feet, and covers an area of nearly sixteen acres. Its singularity arises from the fact that it is not the work of nature, but the mysterious work of man, composed of millions and millions of broken amphorae, and terra-cotta jars, piled up in regular layers, in imitation of geological strata. Many conjectural explanations have been made of its origin and character. Commendatore de Rossi has suggested one which is worth consideration. On the quay of the Tiber, near the foot of the Monte Testaccio, where the grain and wine-laden ships and barges were moored, there was a large marble slab inscribed with the following notice: Quidquid usuarium invehitur, ansarium non debet, Edited October 20, 2007 by Gaius Paulinus Maximus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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