More Mail-In Rebate

The ancient Greeks called them simply "Stoola," but the classical Romans knew mail-in rebates as "Wasta Timus," scraps of worthless papyrus to be ritually incinerated at the Why Botherum dedicated to their household Gods.
Imagine, for instance, that you are a Centurian of Legion XIV posted to a remote corner of the empire such as Transalpine Gaul or suburban Carthage. Bored of this frontier backwater, you order a brand new pair of lace-up leather sandals from one of the fashionable boutiques in Trajan's Markets.
The sandals cost thirty denarii but there is a fifteen denarii rebate if you mail-in the rebate. Great! What a deal! ... Except, of course, that you actually have to mail in your rebate from Transalpine Gaul back to Rome, a gargantuan task that will make Hannibal's famous elephant drive look like a quick waltz around the block.
Guess it's time to dedicate that Why Botherum to wing-ed Mercury.

Comments

[Hannibal]

Everybody knows that Carthage was the second city of the later empire, and you do a definite injustice to the urbi if you suggest otherwise. Who needs a rebate when Tunisian prices are better than anything in Latium anyhow?

[Mortimer Shy]

As Phillip K. Dick said, in Valis: "The empire never ended." Speaking of that Rome, or Greece if you want to drive it further, which will not release it's grip on the imagination. Dully emblazoned on the sleeve of the fleet postman still is the sign of the planet Mercury.