Roman era reveals expenses claims

BBC ^ | Friday, May 29, 2009 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Writing tablets uncovered near Hadrian's Wall detail hundreds of expenses claimed by Roman officials... Five of the translated tablets contain 111 lines detailing entertainment claims at the Roman camp of Vindolanda. The items include ears of grain, hobnails for boots, bread, cereals, hides and pigs. The wooden writing tablets - which date from the 2nd Century - were discovered at Vindolanda, the Roman encampment near Hadrian's Wall in 1973... Professor Tony Birley, who translated the tablets, said they detail hundreds of expense claims and "lavish parties" held for officers... The wooden tablets, which are held at the British Museum in London, depict a business letter written by an official or entrepreneur supplying goods to the Roman army. It reads: "As to the 100 pounds of sinew from Marinus - I will settle up. From when you wrote about this he has not even mentioned it to me. I have written to you several times that I have bought ears of grain, about 5000 modii, on account of which I need denarii - unless you send me something, I will lose what I have given as a down payment, and will be embarrassed, so I ask you: send me some denarii as soon as possible." ...Tom Higgins, the director of communications at Hadrian's Wall Heritage, said: "The tablets show desperate pleas by officials so I think the Roman legions were quite tight with their money." More than 400 tablets were discovered at the site and are some of the earliest examples of the written word in Britain.

[SunkenCiv]

The BBC was bailin' water like crazy to try to stave off the impending defeat of Labour.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Hegemony Cricket]

Those accounts receivable whiners have always been the same...

[John123]

"lavish parties"

Well, nothing changed... Obama spends hundreds of thousands of dollars for dinner with the wifey...

[Frantzie]

The Romans were so far ahead of their time. Just incredible.

[Perdogg]

If they had been really smart they would have come up with the idea of the per diem.

[grey_whiskers]

The wooden writing tablets - which date from the 2nd Century - were discovered at Vindolanda, the Roman encampment near Hadrian's Wall in 1973.

Nice writing, that.

Cheers!

[wildbill]

To Marcus Antoninus, Hail

Thanks for the tip that I can’t claim a new toga on my expenses. Edepol!
I still think it was ruined in the line of duty since that barbarian pig Trecintorix puked all over it at the treaty dinner. I wouldn’t wear it again if that squinty-eyed auditor Gaius approved three times the denarii for it.

Please check my new expense account. The cost of the toga is in there. Gaius will need the luck of Mithra if he thinks he can find it.

[central_va]

Interesting Roman Army Info

[colorado tanker]

You put a bill from a house of Priapus on your expense account? Very funny, Marius, very funny.