Parable of the Talents

[jack]

http://www.discipleship.net/parable/talents.htm (Link chosen at random)

What I never realised when I was told parable of the talents was that a talent was a lot of money. I had the impression of coins, not of nearly someone's weight in gold. Though estimates vary a lot.

Of course, it's hard to establish any kind of comparison because everything would cost different amounts relative to everything else. And gold would be rather differently valued itself.

I hadn't hitherto realise banks were so well established then. Lots of fantasy worlds have some sort of banking, but they generally seem based on english banking as of 17th century.

Apparently you could *lodge* your money somewhere since forever, but I'm not sure when paying interest became the norm. Or how reliable banks were -- from 17th century times there were still "The king takes all your gold" problems :(

Comments

[miss-next.livejournal.com]

There has been some sort of local banking ever since there has been money and people have had appreciable amounts of it, but international banking was apparently invented by the Templars (who did very well out of it). Interest seems to have been around for as long as banking, too - you'll recall the prohibition of usury (excessive interest) in the Old Testament.

[angelofthenorth.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. One talent was about a lifetime's earnings.

That's why the parable is still powerful...