An economy based around drunk naked oiled fat chicks? - Historum

**Sargon of Akkad** · January 10th, 2011, 06:56 AM

Yes, I am of course talking about the Balearic slingers. Famously given to being paid in wine and women, one can't help but wonder what they were planning to do in their old age - take the spoils of their campaigns (amphorae of wine and a bunch of women) back to the Balearic Islands? Surely the Balearic Islands were full of wine and women, given that so many mercenaries were hired from there over the years - it must have been the main source of 'income' in the same way the Ghurkas' economy is based largely on money from Britain.

How did this even come about? Some enterprising Carthaginian merchant who laughs and says "how would you like to be paid, in women and wine?" and the Balearic chieftons glance at each other and say "sure!" on impulse?! It's like a teenage boy's fantasy come true.

**Charlie Bravo** · January 10th, 2011, 07:00 AM

Perhaps they were initially paid solely in women, but when they saw their payment they requested wine as well?

**Sargon of Akkad** · January 10th, 2011, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Bravo

Perhaps they were initially paid solely in women, but when they saw their payment they requested wine as well?

Ouch! Those dastardly Carthaginians always screw their mercenaries out of their pay.

**Charlie Bravo** · January 10th, 2011, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sargon of Akkad

Ouch! Those dastardly Carthaginians always screw their mercenaries out of their pay.

Beware of Carthaginians bearing women!

**gaius valerius** · January 10th, 2011, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sargon of Akkad

Yes, I am of course talking about the Balearic slingers. Famously given to being paid in wine and women, one can't help but wonder what they were planning to do in their old age - take the spoils of their campaigns (amphorae of wine and a bunch of women) back to the Balearic Islands? Surely the Balearic Islands were full of wine and women, given that so many mercenaries were hired from there over the years - it must have been the main source of 'income' in the same way the Ghurkas' economy is based largely on money from Britain.

How did this even come about? Some enterprising Carthaginian merchant who laughs and says "how would you like to be paid, in women and wine?" and the Balearic chieftons glance at each other and say "sure!" on impulse?! It's like a teenage boy's fantasy come true.

What else was there to do on those islands? Since the main export product nowadays is probably drunken adolescents partying I'm guessing that for the ancients it was even less fantastic.

**pikeshot1600** · January 10th, 2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gaius valerius

What else was there to do on those islands? Since the main export product nowadays is probably drunken adolescents partying I'm guessing that for the ancients it was even less fantastic.

Yeah, back then there were no deodorants.