Spoiler alert: the toga doesn't make you more honest. And yes, the Romans already knew what it meant to "dip their hands in the till." Discover when Rome also had its corruption.

Corruption, politicking, hidden plots, illegal kickbacks, slips of paper... No, we're not talking about any current case, but about the glorious and decadent Roman Empire, which even back then had more internal plots than a Netflix series.

Because if today we have headlines with names of judicial operations that sound like movie titles—"Kitchen," "Tandem," "Iberian Bite"—the Romans were not far behind: the Senate was a mix between a parliamentary debate, a Persian market... and a forum cafeteria at 3 in the morning.

Ready for a journey back in time that proves history not only repeats itself, but sometimes seems to laugh at us?

Senators, bribes, and SPQR… which could very well mean “Yes, But Who Steals?”

In theory, the Roman Senate was the heart of Rome's government: wise patriarchs who looked after the people. In practice, many of these venerable senators financed campaigns, parties, and private orgies with "donations" from the people.

Does this sound familiar? Because if this isn't a scheme of illegal financing, come and see for yourself.

Bribes were part of the system: they were offered in exchange for favors, public contracts, judicial decisions and even for advancement in political careers (the cursus honorum, in Latin… or a crash course in corruption, depending on how you look at it).

Nero, the influencer emperor (of blackmail)

Emperor Nero, one of history's most extravagant emperors, not only played the lyre while Rome burned: he also bought votes like followers. He literally bought support in the Senate and organized populist games and spectacles to keep the masses happy while emptying the public coffers.

Nero was a pioneer of populism: bread, circuses… and bank transfers!

And if someone opposed him? Easy: exile, execution, or a false accusation. Something like the lawfare Roman version, but without Twitter.

Imperial-style tax fraud

Did you think tax fraud was a modern invention? Wealthy Romans evaded taxes through complex structures, fictitious properties, or outright bribing tax collectors.

And if anyone tried to change the system... well, they'd either end up exiled or mysteriously stabbed 23 times by their coworkers. Right, César?

"And you, Brute?" It would be today: “You too, comrade?”

Corruption made in Rome

There were no political parties like today, but there were power groups, rival factions, and senators with hidden agendas.

For example:

• Shady financing: Review the archives from 63 BC and you'll see how Catiline was already organizing conspiracies financed by moneylenders.
• Buying offices: In Rome, if you wanted to be consul, you needed charisma… and a bag of sesterces.
• Personal scandals: between Caligula naming his horse consul and the palace bed affairs, you didn't know if you were in the forum or on a celebrity gossip show.

Moral: nothing new under the sun… except our tours

History shows that political scandals aren't a thing of today. The difference is that now we read about them in the Official Gazette... and before, they were carved in marble.

But if one thing is clear to us, it is that:
Roman and contemporary politics have more in common than we'd like. The only thing that's changed is the hairstyles.

Want more stories like this? Join us.

At Histary Tours, we take you to the places where history was written... and where it was rewritten with corrupted ink. Whether in Barcelona, Valencia, London, or wherever there's a marble with secrets, we'll tell you with facts, laughs, and references that would make a consul blush.

Discover our school, family and theme tours at https://histary.es

And if you are a teacher, coordinator, or simply a history lover with humor:
Book your activity now at https://hlcomedytours.com