Lives Behind The Laws: The World Of The Codex Hermogenianus Project Muse Upcc Books

In this exploration of the administration of law and its role in the lives of ordinary people in the northern provinces of the Roman Empire, Serena Connolly draws upon a rich but little-known legal collection from the late 3rd century known as the Codex Hermogenianus. The codex is composed of imperial responses to petitions sent to Rome, written by a team of the emperor's legal experts. These petitions and responses provide a wealth of information about provincial legal administration and the lives of the non-elite petitioners. The man who prostituted his wife, the mother whose malicious son undersold her farm, and the slaves who posed as free men to get a loan are just a few of the lives to encounter. Lives behind the Laws makes a valuable contribution to Roman social, political, and legal history. Contents......Page 8 Preface and Acknowledgments......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 20 Introduction......Page 28 1 Seeking Justice in the Roman World......Page 43 Petitioning in the Roman World......Page 49 The Codex Hermogenianus......Page 66 The Rescript System in Motion......Page 74 The Work of the scrinium libellorum......Page 82 3 The Rescript System in Context......Page 90 Petitioners......Page 94 Places......Page 110 4 Using the System......Page 125 “With the Law”......Page 129 “Before the Law”......Page 139 “Against the Law”......Page 156 5 The Emperor and His Petitioners......Page 164 Petitioners in Need: The New Understanding of Poverty......Page 165 The Roles of the Emperor......Page 167 Limits on the Emperor......Page 181 The Nexus of Power: Emperor, Officials, Petitioners......Page 182 Conclusion......Page 186 Appendix 1. The Skaptopara Inscription......Page 194 Appendix 2. Catalog of Extant Entries from the Codex Hermogenianus......Page 202 Map......Page 232 Notes......Page 234 Bibliography......Page 272 Index......Page 288

In this exploration of the administration of law and its role in the lives of ordinary people in the northern provinces of the Roman Empire, Serena Connolly draws upon a rich but little-known legal collection from the late 3rd century known as the Codex Hermogenianus. The codex is composed of imperial responses to petitions sent to Rome, written by a team of the emperor’s legal experts. These petitions and responses provide a wealth of information about provincial legal administration and the lives of the non-elite petitioners. The man who prostituted his wife, the mother whose malicious son undersold her farm, and the slaves who posed as free men to get a loan are just a few of the lives to encounter. Lives behind the Laws makes a valuable contribution to Roman social, political, and legal history.

An exploration of the administration of law and its role in the lives of ordinary people in the northern provinces of the Roman Empire. It draws upon a legal collection from the late 3rd century known as the "Codex Hermogenianus", which is composed of imperial responses to petitions sent to Rome, written by a team of the emperor's legal experts. Seeking Justice In The Roman World -- The Rescript System -- The Rescript System In Context -- Using The System -- The Emperor And His Petitioners. Serena Connolly. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 245-259) And Index.