money

Konstantine Panegyres /The Conversation “All I want is an income of 20,000 sesterces from secure investments”, proclaims a character in a poem by Juvenal (1st-2nd century AD), the Roman poet. Today, 20,000 sesterces would be equivalent to about a $300,000 in interest from investments. Anyone would be very happy with this much passive annual income. Like today, people in ancient times understood that investing money could help them consolidate and grow their wealth. As the Roman novelist Petronius (1st century AD) once wrote, Whoever has money sails with a fair breeze, and governs his fortune as he wishes. So, how exactly did ancient people invest their money? A lofty house with hidden silver In ancient Greek and Roman times, there