publican

thumb|Conversion of Zacchaeus (Pietro Monaco, 1730s): Jesus (right) addresses a publicanus (left); [[Zacchaeus watches from a tree.]]

The '''' (Latin ; Greek τελώνης telōnēs'') were public contractors in the Roman Republic and Empire. In their official capacity, they often supplied the Roman legions and military, managed the collection of port duties, and oversaw public building projects. In addition, they served as tax collectors for the Roman Republic (and later the Roman Empire), farming the taxes of the Roman provinces, and bidding on contracts for the collection of various types of taxes. Importantly, this role as tax collectors was not emphasized until late into the history of the Republic. The publicans were usually of the class of .