A nearly 2,000-year-old Greek papyrus uncovered in the Judean Desert has revealed a fascinating corruption trial in the Roman Empire, shedding new light on legal practices and Jewish history. The document, the longest of its kind found in the region, details a criminal case involving two men, Gadalias and Saulos, accused of sophisticated tax fraud, including forged slave sales to evade Roman taxes. Discovered in 2014 by Professor Hannah Cotton-Paltiel, the papyrus offers a rare glimpse into Roman judicial proceedings on the eve of the Bar Kokhba revolt, providing valuable insight into the complexities of Roman law in the provinces.
