Victorious Ancient Roman Politician "TRUMPET" Donated Symbolic Sundial to Middleclass Hometown Supporters

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After winning the election, Marcus Novius Tubula donated this marble sundial to his hometown.

Based on the inscription style, researchers believe it was inscribed ~50 B.C. but seems like an auspicious find, during our election month, a victory trophy of remembrance for "Tubula" or "TRUMPet" in Latin. 

Another interesting note is that this honored hometown was a middle-class one. In other words, "Trumpet" won the hearts of the middle-class citizens and honored their support with a philosophically significant sundial monument, perhaps to remind them of their shared victory. 

Some 2,000 years ago this politician, according to the inscription, paid for this monument and gave it to the city of Interamna Lirenas. It's ~50 miles south of Rome, established in the 4th century B.C. and left for ruin by the 6th century A.D.

This site has been excavating since 2010 and is significant because of its geopolitical situation during the Roman Empire.

Urban settlement, road network and field systems in the ancient Liri Valley (dark grey = areas over 200 m ASML)

Originally created as a Latin colony (formally independent from Rome, but bound by a close military and political alliance), the town was located at the intersection of two important communication routes: the via Latina (linking Lazio and Campania) and the course of the river Liris (linking the hinterland with the Tyrrhenian coast). Its origins lay in the Romans' military operations against the Samnites, part of their broader process of expansion across central-southern Italy (late 4th - early 3rd c. BC). 

This is a concave limestone sundial with markings measuring hours of the day and for the summer and winter solstices. 

Finds of sundials with inscriptions are quite rare, making this a "special find," emphasizes Alessandro Launaro, co-director the 2017 excavations with Martin Millett, Faculty of Classics at the University of Cambridge.

Inscribed in Latin on the sundial's base is "Marcus Novius Tubula," and inscriptions along the curved rim tell us that he held the office of Plebeian Tribune and graciously paid for the sundial with his own money.

 

Significant Sundial Symbolism

Why would a victorious politician put a sundial in his hometown? What does a sundial represent? According to the Oneirokritika of Artemidorus of Daldis, written in the 2nd century AD, which presents ways of interpreting dreams and interpretations of some of them:

“A sundial implies activities, beginnings of business, movements, projects, for those who act carefully regarding time. Thus, seeing a sundial fall or break can be dangerous and bad, especially for those who are ill."

Basically, the sundial is a symbol of time and of our limited time alive. As a symbol of time, it has also been used to encourage something be remembered. In this case of the politician, especially with the inscription giving himself credit, it's probably meant for him to be remembered by his local supporters. 

"The sundial would have represented his way of celebrating his election in his own hometown," says Laurano. "People looking at it to check the time would have been reminded of Tubula's success."

Although it was found at the theater's entrance, some researchers think it was moved from the public forum. However, I think it would make good sense to put a clock with my name on it outside a theater where many people would go for entertainment. Here it may get much more attention and even more appreciation. 

SOURCES:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/11/ancient-rome-election-victory-sundial-archaeology/

https://www.classics.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/interamna-lirenas

http://www.academia.edu/15103372/SYMBOLIC_MEANINGS_OF_SUNDIALS_IN_ANTIQUITY

5 Bizarre Forms of Ancient Taxes

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Food. Water. Fuel.

As it is, we already complain about the amount of taxes imposed on our necessities, they might as well charge us for the air we breathe. Not to mention the big chunk taken from our salaries every month, for supposed government funds.

But if you could pause and think about it, we should be grateful. Hundreds of years ago, rulers from different parts of the globe found really interesting, and mostly questionable reasons to raise funds. But we can’t really blame them.

It was a time when countries were almost always at war – either conquering a territory or protecting theirs. And tax provided great money for their militaries.

In this video, we’ll give you the top 5 most bizarre forms of ancient taxes. The following may sound funny now, but our ancestors sure made a lot of money out of them.

 

#5 — Cowardice Tax in England

Yes, there was no free room for cowards in the ancient times.

Despite the wars waging in different parts of the world today, that is still nothing compared to how life was centuries ago - when the world still revolved in conquest. Back then, the unspoken rule was - conquer or be conquered.

Of course, every invasion needs an army. And territories raised their men to fight. Joining the military was not an option but a requirement. It is a service that vassals owed their lord. And if they couldn’t give it, they had to pay.

Formally known as scutage, the cowardice tax was a sort of shield money for those who are not physically, emotionally, or mentally capable of going to war. It was a great way to extort money from nobles, but a chance that even some lowly citizens grabbed.

The first known form of scutage was established in 12th century England, under the reign of King Henry I.

History records show that it started with King Henry asking for a small amount of payment, which increased year after year, with the growing trend of a money economy.

As it was a practice advantageous to both sides, it easily spread to other European countries like France and Germany, although not as widespread as it was in England.

And by the start of the early 13th century, King John was already collecting scutage 300% more than its original worth. He also imposed payment from knights even in the years when there were no wars at all. This abuse prompted a Magna Carta that prohibits the royal court from imposing scutage without the permission of a great council. And by the 14th century, cowardice tax was officially banned.

 

#4 — Window Tax in England

In 1696, William III imposed an outrageous tax on houses or any other buildings that had more than 10 windows. The tax increased depending on the number of windows - from the flat rate of two shillings to the maximum of eight shillings.

It was meant to be a progressive tax. The idea was that poor families would have smaller houses and thus fewer windows. They would then be taxed less or none at all. The system actually worked for the rural poor, but it failed miserably for those in urban areas, who had to live in large tenement buildings. These settlements, although occupied by several families, were taxed as one whole house.

Imagine how many windows one tenement building has.

Landlords, who of course did not want to carry the burden of paying the huge amount of window tax, passed the problem to the tenants, who were subjected to higher rent.

In a bid to escape or at least lessen their window taxes, homeowners started constructing buildings with very few windows, or have their existing windows boarded up. To which, the government's answer was to lower the minimum number of windows allowed. The initial minimum of 10 windows became 7 starting 1766.

With the increasing population and decreasing number of windows, insufficient ventilation became a big problem. Medical professionals started complaining that dark and damp environments, especially in huge buildings, are possible sources of some diseases. Living close to each other could also easily cause these diseases to spread.

Their continuous campaigning reaped its reward in 1851. The window tax was finally repealed – 156 years after its creation, to be replaced by the more reasonable and still existing house tax.

 

#3 — Urine Tax, or Vectigal Urinae in Rome

Pecunia non olet. It was a famous saying in ancient Rome, which basically means “money does not stink.”

Back in 1st century AD, under the rule of Emperor Vespasian, urine was valued for its high ammonia content. It was considered the best weapon against dirt, and was widely used to wash clothes, tan leather, and mind you, to whiten teeth.

Back then, the lower Roman classes would urinate in pots, which were emptied in cesspools. While the higher classes used public bathhouses. Urine was collected from these facilities and recycled in various ways to transform into cleaning ingredients.

Emperor Vespasian, having noticed that a lucrative business has been created out of this practice, imposed a tax on people who bought this urine.

Thus the saying Pecunia non olet. Historians say it became famous after a particular conversation between Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus, who had been complaining about the smelly nature of the tax. They say Vespasian then held a gold coin and asked his son if it smelled. Of course, Titus said no, and to this, the emperor replied, "Yet it comes from urine."

Disgusting as it does sound, Vespasian did earn a lot of money from this practice. Because of his ruthless taxation, he was not only able to bring the Romans out of debt but also left a great sum of money for his successor. He was also able to order the construction of many Roman infrastructures, including the iconic Colosseum.

Until today, Pecunia non olet remains famous, to say that the value of money does not diminish just because it comes from stinky means.

 

#2 — Breast Tax or Mulakkaram in Kerala, India

There is a very long history of repression against women and the less fortunate around the world. And if you're a poor woman, prepare to have the world on your shoulders. This particular tax in Southern India made them feel very small indeed.

In the early 1800s, the caste system in India was at its most oppressive – so much so that both the men and women of the lower caste were not allowed to cover their chests when meeting members of the upper caste. Back then, clothing was a symbol of wealth and prosperity, and wearing one would have been considered disrespectful against the higher caste.

While the men were able to accept this law grudgingly, it was very disadvantageous for women, who were starting to see the merits of covering their breasts, especially when entering religious temples.

In the book Native Life in Travancore, Samuel Mateer explains how this practice ensured that the higher caste continued to thrive while pushing the lower caste to remain in a never-ending cycle of poverty and scarcity.

But a woman from Alappuzha will forever be remembered for changing the course of history, or at least, for giving women the courage to fight this oppression. Legend has it that this woman, named Nangeli, decided to fight the system at the cost of her life.

One day, when the tax collector arrived at her house to collect Mulakkaram, she laid a plantain leaf as usual. But instead of giving money, she suddenly cut off her breasts, put them on the leaf, and offered it to the shocked tax collector. Nangeli bled to her death, but she left a legacy that has been passed on through generations.

They say it was because of the repression women had to suffer during that time, but Nangeli's story never made it to any history books. However, the women of Kerala never once doubted its validity, and will forever look up to Nangeli as their hero.

 

#1 — Beard Tax in Russia

Back in the 1700s, Russia was led by a young yet legendary royal, in the name of Peter the Great, well known for leading the modernization of Russia.

In a bid to drag his motherland from its pastoral ancestry, Peter went on a year-long voyage across neighboring European countries, like Britain and the Netherlands, to learn about their relatively advanced military and trade techniques.

But when he came back to Russia, he adapted more than just their defense system, but also their fashion sense.

The court celebrated his arrival with a party consist of his most beloved aides and diplomats. Historians say that in the said ball, Peter the Great suddenly pulled out a razor and shaved off his friends’ beards one by one. Such was the court’s respect for the czar that they could only stare in horror at what he was doing.

He then ordered that every man in Russia should shave off his beard, for the reason that the clean-shaven look was what was considered fashionable in Europe at that time.

However, this received a negative reaction from the Russian Orthodox Church, who believed that shaving one’s beard would, in the words of Ivan the Terrible, disfigure the image of man as he was created by God.

This forced Peter the Great to re-consider his actions. Instead of ordering men to imitate his fashion sense, he imposed a yearly beard tax for those who preferred to keep their facial hair. The amount of payment depended on the man's social status. And those who chose to pay received a copper coin with the writing 'tax paid' as proof that they have been granted permission to keep their beard.

Infamous as it was, the beard tax remained in practice until 1772, 47 years after his death.

 

There you have it, the five most bizarre ancient taxes.

At least now you know that however suffocated you are from all the taxes you have to pay, at least you could freely cover your chest wherever you go, or grow your beard as long as you want to.

Sources: 

Message to Eagle (Nov. 21, 2016). 10 Most Bizarre Forms of Ancient Taxes: Surprising and Funny. Retrieved from http://www.messagetoeagle.com/10-bizarre-forms-ancient-taxes-surprising-funny/

Handwerk, Brian (April 14, 2016). Feeling Overtaxed? The Romans Would Tax Your Urine. Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160414-history-bad-taxes-tax-day/

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. Scutage. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/scutage

Medieval Sourcebook: England: The Collection of Scutage, 1159-1195. Retrieved from https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/scutage.html

Hill, Bryan (July 12, 2015). Money Does Not Stink: The Urine Tax of Ancient Rome. Retrieved from http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/money-does-not-stink-urine-tax-ancient-rome-003408

The Scribe (June 4, 2007). At Least You Don't Pay Tax Urine. Retrieved from ancientstandard.com/2007/06/04/at-least-you-don't-pay-urine-tax...-1st-c-ad

Unni Nair, Supriya (Aug. 28, 2016). Dress Code Repression: Kerala's History of Breast Tax for Avarna Women. Retrieved from: http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/dress-code-repression-keralas-history-breast-tax-avarna-women-48982

Sebastian, Sheryl (SEpt. 12, 2016). Kerala's Casteist Breast Tax and the Story of Nangeli. Retrieved from https://feminisminindia.com/2016/09/12/kerala-breast-tax-nangeli/

Mancini, Mark (March 29, 2014). The Time Peter the Great Declared War on Facial Hair. Retrieved from http://mentalfloss.com/article/55772/time-peter-great-declared-war-facial-hair

Staff of Parliament.UK. Window Tax. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/towncountry/towns/tyne-and-wear-case-study/about-the-group/housing/window-tax/

Staff of History House. Window Tax. Retrieved from http://www.historyhouse.co.uk/articles/window_tax.html

7 Real Life Entrances To Hell You Can Actually Travel To

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Though its name may differ from one set of teachings to another, almost every religion that we know of believe that there is a special and horrific place for the souls of those who have been banished for purposes of either penance or perpetual punishment. From the toxic tunnels in Turkey, to the tricky Mayan City of Xibalba, and all the way to the Greco-Roman temples dedicated to Hades, cultures around the world have stories of fire and brimstone that speak of doorways, caves and rivers on Earth leading to hell or the underworld.

These purported entrances to the netherworld are scattered across the globe, and while many of them have already fallen to ruin, they are all still sites of mystery and danger that continue to grab the attention of even the best of us.

And so, without further ado, here are seven actual places on earth people believed were entrances to hell.

1. Cape Matapan Caves (The Mani, Greece)

The cave network in Cape Matapan was one of the several entrances that the Ancient Greeks once ascribed to Hades, the Kingdom of the Shades. When Orpheus headed down to Hades in order to rescue Eurydice, it was believed that he had done so through a cave on Cape Matapan. Hercules, too, allegedly used these caverns when he ventured into the underworld as well.

The Cape Matapan Caves are located on the southernmost tip of the Greek mainland. Also known as Cape Tainaron, or Tenaro, it is situated on the end of the peninsula currently known as the Mani. In modern times, the caves at Cape Matapan can still be entered by visitors. However, they must ride a boat if they want to pass through this particular hellgate.

2. Hekla (Iceland)

This active volcano located in the southern mountains of Iceland has developed its reputation as a gateway to hell sometime in the 12th century, after its historic 1104 eruption. The monk Benedict’s 1120 poem about the voyages of Saint Brendan referred to Hekla as the “eternal prison of Judas.” In 1341, the medieval Icelandic manuscript “Flatey Book Annal” described large birds where were reportedly seen flying inside the volcano’s fiery crater, and these creatures were believed to be the swarming souls of the damned.

There have been more than 20 serious volcanic eruptions of Hekla recorded since 874 AD. Since its activity has remained somewhat peaceful in recent years, most superstitions surrounding Hekla disappeared by the 19th century. However, even in recent times, Hekla has kept its diabolic status, as local folklore claims it to be a place where witches meet with the devil.

3. Lacus Curtius (Rome, Italy)

At present, this pit in the Roman Forum doesn’t look like much, but according to a legend told by the Roman historian Livy, Lacus Curtius was once a wide chasm that appeared in the middle of Rome, and nothing could fill it. According to Livy’s story, an oracle once prophesized that the chasm would not close and that the Roman Republic would fall unless the city sacrificed that which had made it strong. To a man named Marcus Curtius, the strength of Rome lied in its weapons and the bravery of its citizens. And so, fully armored and armed, Marcus Curtius rode his horse, entered the chasm, and supposedly went straight into the underworld. Because of his bravery, the chasm closed and the city was saved.

4. Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, Belize)

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Located in Belize, this place is once believed to be the entrance to the Mayan underworld known as Xibalba. The name Actun Tunichil Mukna translates to “Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre,” and extensive research has linked the site to ancient Mayan legends that speak of rivers of blood and scorpions and a vast subterranean labyrinth ruled over by the demonic death gods of Xibalba.

The caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal have become a popular destination for explorers since it was rediscovered back in 1989. One of the more notable discoveries in the caves is the skeleton of an 18-year-old-girl who is believed to have been ritualistically sacrificed and murdered for the Death Gods of Xibalba. More than a thousand years since her death, her bones calcified, creating a shimmering crystal effect which earned her skeleton the nickname the “Crystal Maiden.”

5. Ploutonion (Denizli Province, Turkey)

For thousands of years, the Ancient Greek site known as “Ploutonion” or “Pluto’s Gate” was dismissed as nothing more than a work of fiction. That is until the site was rediscovered in 1965 in the ancient city of Hierapolis, which is near modern-day Pamukkale in Turkey. Long believed to have been a gateway to hell, an archaeological dig revealed the remains of an ancient temple, believed to be the sacred Temple of Pluto, which is situated on its thermal spring.

One of the distinctive features of Pluto’s Gate are the toxic fumes which travels from the tunnels beneath. In ancient times, these fumes were often inhaled by the priests of Pluto, which inevitably sent them into hallucinogenic trance states. Even now, the poisonous vapors of the area take the lives of birds that fly too close to the ruins.

6. Fengdu City of Ghosts (Chongqing, China)

The 2,000-year-old City of Ghosts is located in the Chonqing municipality of China, and it has long been believed to be a pitstop of the dead on their way to the afterlife. Founded during the Han Dynasty, which ruled China between 206 BC and 220 AD, the City of Ghosts bases its heritage on the story of two renegade officials who escaped the wrath of the emperor. Their names, Yin and Wang, were later used to create the title for one of the rules of hell – “Qinguang Wang Jiang.”

Fengdu is famous for its traditional architecture and elaborate craftsmanship. Its streets and squares are filled with statues of ghosts and demons, but it’s most striking landmark is arguably “The Ghost King” – a giant, carved face looking down on the city from a rock face. Measuring about 452 feet tall and 712 feet across, it is considered as the largest rock sculpture in the world.

7. Chinoike Jigoku (Beppu City, Japan)

Japan’s Beppu City is the home to a series of nine hot springs, and each one flows in a different color and composition. At the heart of these health spa pools lies the dark legend involving the pool known as Chinoike Jigoku or the “Bloody Hell Pond.” This particular pond gets its name from its rich hellish red color which comes from the natural iron oxide deposits located on the pond bed. The Bloody Hell Pond is presided over by a collection of sculpted demons, some of which were carved into the rocks themselves.

The Chinoike Jigoku has been likened by Buddhists to the bubbling pits of hell, and in olden times, the Bloody Pond – which is very hot at around 78 degrees Celsius – had been used to torture prisoners before they were boiled alive.

Are there really gateways to hell in different parts of the planet? For most of those who believe in some religions, the afterlife can only be reached spiritually. However, it cannot be denied that there are those who believe that there are places on Earth that serve as portals to the underworld. And even if that is not exactly true, these ancient sites still stand as the common link that ties various human cultures and belief systems in different parts of the world together. And perhaps that is more than impressive enough.