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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §18.1.42.pr

Prohibition of Selling Slaves to Fight Wild Beasts

Passage 2630 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section states the legal prohibition against masters selling their slaves, even those who have committed crimes, for the purpose of fighting wild beasts, as confirmed by a rescript of the divine brothers.

[MARCIANUS libro primo institutionum. ] §18.1.42.prDomini neque per se neque per procuratores suos possunt saltem criminosos seruos uendere, ut cum bestiis pugnarent.
[MARCIANUS, in the first book of Institutes.] Masters can neither by themselves nor by their procurators sell slaves, even if they are criminal, so that they may fight with wild beasts.
et ita diui fratres rescripserunt.
And so the divine brothers replied by rescript.

Notes

  1. §18.1.42.prsaltem criminosos seruos — The adverb saltem modifies the adjective criminosos, meaning "even if they are criminal slaves." It highlights that even in the case of slaves who have committed crimes and might otherwise face severe penalties, selling them to fight wild beasts is prohibited.
  2. §18.1.42.prut cum bestiis pugnarent — The ut-clause introducing the imperfect subjunctive pugnarent expresses the purpose or terms of the sale (uendere).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §18.1.42.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:18.1.42.pr

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