Posted on by Doug Santo

Gaius Messius ripped off by Roman Army 1900 years ago following siege of Masada

Ancient soldier’s payslip, found during excavation of 1,900-year-old Roman Empire camp in Israel, reveals the infantryman was left BROKE after military deducted his uniform and food

    • Payslip of a Roman soldier shows the military deductions totaled the stipend
    •  Gaius Messius received 50 denarri following the Siege of Masada
    • Deductions were taken out for barley money, food, leather straps and more
    • The Siege of Masada was part of the First Jewish-Roman War that ended in 73AD

The document was made out to a Gaius Messius, who participated in the Siege of Masada that was one of the last battles during the First Jewish-Roman War

The fortress of Masada

A payslip made from a sheet of papyrus shows a Roman soldier was left penniless 1,900 years ago after the military took out fees for certain items. It shows Gaius Messius received 50 denarri, but fees for barley money, food and military equipment were taken out that totaled to the amount of his full pay

A payslip made from a sheet of papyrus shows a Roman soldier was left penniless 1,900 years ago after the military took out fees for certain items. It shows Gaius Messius received 50 denarri, but fees for barley money, food and military equipment were taken out that totaled to the amount of his full pay

Doug Santo