Twelve Tables Law Code: Hellenistic Greece And The Roman Republic

The initial republic established in Rome, after the legend of King Tarquinius Superbus and Lucretia, was comprised of the patrician citizen families and the plebeian citizen families (“Hellenistic Greece and the Roman Republic”, 133). The patricians, even though some of the plebeians were more ancient and wealthy, were eligible to obtain political power while the plebeians were expected to fill the army. After realizing how much power one had by being in the Roman army, the plebeians revolted and assembled to institute the Twelve Tables law code – a law code that established “a common standard of justice for all citizens (“Hellenistic Greece and the Roman Republic”, 134). Historians have used this treaty to reveal the values and anxieties of

This value is illustrated by the need for three tables to outline the resolution of varying disputes. For example, Table I focuses on being summoned in front of the magistrate by containing rules such as “If anyone summons a man before the magistrate, he must go. If the man summoned does not go, let the one summoning him call the bystanders to witness and then take him by force” (“The Twelve Tables”) or “If [the summoned] shirks or runs away, let the summoner lay hands on him” (“The Twelve Tables”). Furthermore, Table II illustrates that “He whose witness has failed to appear may summon him by loud calls before his house every third day” (“The Twelve Tables”). Finally, Table III reveals laws punishing those who don’t pay their debt on time (“The Twelve Tables”). If 25% of the law code was comprised of rules that enforce fair resolutions of disputes, they must have spent a lot of time and dedication doing

While analyzing the primary source further, it was apparent that Romans were anxious about the nightlife. In Table VIII, they explicitly state that “If the theft has been done by night, if the owner kills the thief, the thief shall be held to be lawfully killed” (“The Twelve Tables”). This is intriguing because another law says “It is unlawful for a thief to be killed by day” (“The Twelve Tables”). The exception of being able to kill thieves at night makes it clear that night is not a pleasant time to be out and about. The fact that killing other citizens at night is acceptable means that there are events that happen at night terrifying enough to have killing be an acceptable means of defense. This idea is supported by rule number 26 which confirms that “No person shall hold meetings by night in the city” (“The Twelve Tables”). Or in other words, there shouldn’t be events at night that warrant people to go