Poll tax, salt tax, and crown tax! Wherever they went, along major highways, at city gates, or along quiet country roads, the Israelites encountered the tax booth. The main symbol of foreign domination, and that which most stirred their indignation. Foreign taxation was nothing new to them, but the unscrupulous dealings of the Roman tax-farmers and […]
With the tourist season upon us, wouldn’t you like to know a little more about Rome the Eternal City? In case you find yourself here in the boot in the future! Rome is often referred to as the Eternal City or Caput Mundi, Latin for capital of the world. This comes from the long-held Roman […]
It’s Carnival, or Mardi Gras, week in Italy. And our little town, like many others, holds a traditional parade and a masked street party every year. But no Italian carnival celebration in Italy is more famous than that of Venice. The word carnival literally means to say goodbye to the flesh. The celebration is a […]
Wherever you go in Italy, it seems love is in the air! From Venice and its gondola rides to Verona and Romeo and Juliet, Italy is known as one of the most romantic destinations in the world. And especially on Valentine’s Day, Italy almost seems made for love! But Italy isn’t just for lovers. There’s something for everyone! […]
Sometimes, fleeting thoughts flash through my mind causing me to think and ask, “Where did that come from?” Other times they cause me to say emphatically, “I can’t bear to think of it!” Many just meander through for no apparent reason; this is one of those… What would I miss the most about Italy? If […]
Most service-related occupations were carried out in the marketplace. An important place in the life of Oriental communities for conducting business, and more. As we have learned in the other posts of this series, the marketplace also served as a meeting place, a kind of employment office, and even as a preliminary court. In this […]