The article discusses the recent coverage by the New York Times of the trial of Gadalias and Saulos, two individuals from around 130 AD accused of tax evasion in the Roman provinces of Judea and Arabia. The story draws parallels between ancient and modern tax concerns, particularly as April 15th approaches, the tax return deadline in the U.S. The harsh penalties for such crimes in ancient Rome included severe fines, exile, or even execution by wild animals, reflecting a ruthless justice system.
Penalties ranged from heavy fines and permanent exile to hard labor in the salt mines and, in the worst case, damnatio ad bestias, a public execution in which the condemned were devoured by wild animals.
A team of scholars was assembled to conduct a detailed physical examination and cross-reference names and locations with other known historical documents.
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