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Ad Campaign Disabled   Vespasienne Endeavoring to restore the Roman state to solvency, Vespasian imposed taxes on many commodities, among them the use of the city's public urinals. When Vespasian's son Titus objected that such a tax was undignified, Vespasian procured a handful of coins thus taken and held them up to his son's nose. "Non olet," he declared (they do not smell). [In France public urinals are often referred to as vespasiennes.] [Trivia: San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel once employed a full-time coin washer to ensure that its guests received only freshly washed coins.] Vespasian [born Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus], (9-79) Roman emperor (70-79) [noted for his prosperous reign, his reformation of the Roman army, and his construction of the Colosseum] [Sources: Will and Ariel Durant, The History of Civilization III] More Vespasian [born Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus] anecdotes Related Anecdote Keywords: Coins Money Toilets Taxes Roman History Urination Dignity Rhetoric Smells Public Finances Government View/add Comments [0] 10987654321 Ratings: 9.53 [47 vote(s)]

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