The most important source of revenue for the cities and the federation in agrarian Boeotia was the land taxation,
namely the rent paid by the tenants of the public lands and a tax called the tithe paid by the owners and the tenants
alike. The cities also collected the customs duties, some dues paid by the tourists and pilgrims, the tax imposed on the
metics, the fines and confiscated values. Substantial sums came from rich benefactors and public subscriptions. If the
treasury needed more money, the cities resorted to imposing a disposable tax called telos or borrowing considerable
sums from private individuals. The treasury of the Boeotian league was replenished by regular financial contributions
of the cities, by the extraordinary taxes and by other means.
|
