Taxing Freedom in Thessalian Manumission Inscriptions (Mnemosyne, Supplements / Mnemosyne, Supplements, History and)

In Taxing Freedom Rachel Zelnick-Abramovitz examines manumission inscriptions from Hellenistic and Roman Thessaly, which record payments made to the poleis by manumitted slaves. In this original study the author explores the purpose of and the motivation behind these payments, apparently exacted as a federal impost, and places them in a wider historical and economic context. Based on a close examination of the epigraphic and literary evidence, Taxing Freedom offers important insights into the nature and extent of slavery and manumission in Hellenistic and Roman Thessaly, the Thessalian fiscal machinery, and the ways by which Thessalian poleis intervened in the economic life of their citizens to secure revenues. -- Publisher's website. Taxing Freedom in Thessalian Manumission Inscriptions 4 Contents 8 Preface and Acknowledgments 10 List of Abbreviations 12 Map 16 Introduction 18 1 Taxation and Slavery 32 2 The Thessalian Manumission Inscriptions 46 3 Manumission Tax or Publication Fee? 72 4 Evidence from Other Places 88 5 The Historical and Economic Background 126 Pelasgiotis 126 Hestiaiotis 129 Thessaliotis 130 Magnesia 130 Perrhaibia 130 Achaia Phthiotis 133 Malis 134 Ainis 135 Dolopia 136 Conclusions 150 Bibliography 158 Appendix: The Thessalian Manumission Inscriptions 168 Achaia Phthiotis 168 Ainis 169 Dolopia 169 Hestiaiotis 169 Magnesia 170 Malis 170 Pelasgiotis 171 Perrhaibia 172 Thessaliotis 173 Unknown Provenance 173 Index Locorum 174 1. Literary Texts 174 2. Inscriptions 176 3. Papyri 182 General Index 184 Index of Greek Terms 192 In Taxing Freedom Rachel Zelnick-abramovitz Examines The Nature, The Purpose, And The Historical And Economic Context Of Payments Made To The Polis By Manumitted Slaves, As Recorded In Manumission Inscriptions From Hellenistic And Roman Thessaly. Taxation and slavery -- The Thessalian manumission inscriptions -- Manumission tax or publication fee? -- The evidence from other places -- The historical and economic background