Legal Definitions - publicanus

Definition: Publicanus (pronounced puh-bli-kay-nuhs) is a term from ancient Roman law that refers to a tax collector. They were known as "farmers of the public revenue," but they didn't actually do any farming. Instead, they collected money from the labor of others.

Example: In ancient Rome, the government needed money to fund its operations. Publicani were responsible for collecting taxes from the citizens. They would go door-to-door, collecting money from people based on their income and property.

Explanation: The example illustrates how publicani were responsible for collecting taxes from the citizens. They were like modern-day tax collectors, but they worked for the government. The money they collected was used to fund public services like roads, aqueducts, and public buildings.