Researchers at Oxford’s Bodleian Library have uncovered ancient parchments detailing a tax code which scholars are characterizing as “overwhelmingly byzantine.” “When you look at a system like this, all you can do is marvel that it survived as long as it did,” observed Dr. Alp Arslan. “You look for equitable, broad-based systems, but this parchment tells a story of carve-outs and exemptions, sowing the seeds of its ultimate collapse.” Among the peculiarities identified in the parchments: Chariots intended for transportation purposes are subject to a half-solidus tax; those to be raced at the Hippodrome may qualify for community revitalization incentives Axes are only tax deductible if more than fifty percent of their use is against Ostrogoths Deductions for pet moving expenses curiously generous to bear keepers Head taxes only imposed for nights when the taxpayer’s head is firmly and unequivocally affixed independently (the so-called “Procopian exemption“) High tariffs on fish, flesh, and fowl discourage “selling to Byzantium“ ”I can’t make heads or other heads of this byzantine tax structure,” a perplexed John Laskaris, professor of economics and medieval vexilla at Oriel College, declared. “It’s all Greek to me.” Click here to see other posts like this one.
