ABSTRACT
In the early fifth century, the Roman poet Claudius Claudianus wrote a virulent invective against Eutropius, the infamous eunuch and chamberlain of the emperor Arcadius, in which he attacked with bitter sarcasm the latter’s practice of selling his influence for money:
All the country between the Tigris and Mount Haemus he [Eutropius] exposes for sale at a fixed price, this huckster of empire, this infamous dealer in honours. This man governs Asia for which his villa has paid. That man buys Syria with his wife’s jewels. Another repents of having taken Bithynia in exchange for his paternal mansion. Fixed above the open doors of his hall is a list giving the provinces and their prices: so much for Galatia, for Pontus so much, so much will buy one Lydia. Would you govern Lycia? Then lay down so many thousands. Phrygia? A little more.1
