Tuesday, November 5, 2024

buckle up

 

"Roman Republican denarius showing citizens voting. One toga-clad citizen drops his voting tablet in the ballot box, while behind him another voter receives his tablet from an attendant below. Voters crossed elevated walkways or 'pontes' above their fellow citizens in order to reach the ballot box, so all could see that they had voted without any last-minute intimidation or interference by others. 

To safeguard the integrity of elections, in 119 BC, the tribune Gaius Marius further narrowed the pons causeway leading to the ballot box, in order to prevent any non-voters from standing on the gangway and engaging in bribery or intimidation; literally, to ensure that there was 'no room' for interference."

from Gareth Harney, @OptimoPrincipi on twitter. His new book, Moneta: A History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins, is on my short list.

illustration: Denarius struck under the moneyer Publius Licinius Nerva in 112 BC, British Museum Collection

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11 comments:

  1. Thank you! Our state (Washington) votes entirely by mail; there isn’t too much outside intimidation at the kitchen table.

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  2. Not Anonymous; Cam.

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  3. This is a great post, thank you. I didn't know any of that. Breathing now.

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    1. Yep. It's going to be a Remember To Breathe sort of day.

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  4. Yes, time to sit back. What will be will be.

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    1. I'm distracting myself by tackling the list of Unpleasant Tasks, one-handed division. Just got off the phone with my health insurance company. Ugh.

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  5. Thank you - fascinating! Breathing here, with multiple distractions.

    Chris from Boise

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  6. We always manage to survive. Although I think it would be easier if they didn't keep turning it into a giant king of the hill game.

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  7. Neat coin. Interesting history. Gah, what a day. Hope you spent some time with the good weather and the goats.

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  8. Every single thing has a story and a history that we often know nothing about. Always interesting to learn something new. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot of integrity when politicians are bought and paid for. Their lust for greed and power knows no shame.

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