R oman mining legislation from the time of the Republic is sparse despite the continuing de velopment of Roman law over the centuries. The absence of legal sources is a result of the way the Roman state collected revenues from mining. The fis cal regime implied that the collection of tax revenues from customs and mining (ager publicus) 3 was carried out by companies of publicans (societates publicanorum) 4 , to whom lessees of mining concessions paid taxes. 5 Hence, legal regulations related to the publicans covered the mining sector of the economy as well. This means that the Roman Republic was not directly involved in the mining process at all. The miners, pre dominantly slaves, were left to the mercy of the lessees 6 , and the latter to the mercy of the societates publicanorum. 7 The radical changes that were introduced only as late as the time of Vespasian 8 included the disap pearance of associations of publicans 9 , legislation for each aspect of mine exploitation, and a new status for the coloni, the former lessees of mining pits. Owing to the Vipasca laws, we are in a position to follow these changes and to gain an insight into the new mining the statUs oF the COLONI IN THE MINING DISTRICT OF VIPASCA in VieW oF the proVisions oF the LEX METALLIS DICTA 1
This paper analyzes attitudes towards suicide in ancient Greece as presented in Greek tragedies. Although suicide as a social phenomenon was a common motif in various ancient plays, the focus here will be on two tragedies, Sophocles᾿ Ajax and Euripides᾿ Heracles, in which suicidal tendencies motivated by a loss of honor are most clearly depicted. In these plays, the two heroes are faced with a dilemma: choosing between an honorable death or a life spent in shame. In accordance with the ideals of his creator and the strict heroic code, Sophocles’ Ajax decides to commit suicide. Euripides’ Heracles, however, broken and devastated, chooses life by relying only on himself and his friendship with Theseus.
This article discusses the careers of Lucius Septimius Petronianus and Tiberius Claudius Proculus Cornelianus, who successively held the post of procurator of the mining districts situated in the valley of the lower Drina river during the second half of the 2 nd century A.D. It aims to point out a connection between both procurators and Gnaeus Iulius Verus, a famous senator and general originating from the Roman colony of Aequum, in Dalmatia and one of Marcus Aurelius' amici in the early years of the latter's reign. The presence of the protégés of Gnaeus Iulius Verus in the richest mining region of Illyricum is indicative of two things: the emperor's willingness to entrust these mines to the protégés of his closest associate at a time when this region was under constant threat from barbarian attacks, and also the possible intention of Gnaeus Iulius Verus to protect his own investment in mining.
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