Pao-Tung Liu

HIS 300 Extra Credit

Kenneth Lane
12/11/2014

Patria Potestas the Roman form of patriarchy, as well as the sense of family
being controlled by the oldest or most capable male with a strict legal
authority yet there was also limitations upon this power. This was similar to
the kyrios system in Athens except that the son could not take over as the
potestas until either the father had passed away or gave him control of the
family. There wasnt a coming of age handoff and the son couldnt start his
own potestas after being married without his fathers say so. However,
daughters would be married into their husbands potestas whoever it was on
that side of the family. As Rome grew, these rules became more liberal and
sons were free to start their own families and become the leader.

Manus Marriage the arranged marriage that occurred in Rome happened

with the betrothal and the actual marriage ceremony. The potestas of the
daughter formed agreements with their counterparts in the sons family to
marry them together in a union of man and woman. Seeing as how this was
a very patriarchal society, free marriage was used only for those that had
lived together for a long time and those without a potestas. However, if the
father of a daughter who had already been wed saw a more fitting match, he
could make her divorce her current husband. Often done when more
powerful, rich men came along that would benefit the brides family rather
than just the bride.

Nomos empsychos the living law that dictated that a king could become
the law and change it as well. This only occurred when the people loved and
had complete faith that their king had been delivered directly from the Gods.
If a king was this perfect, no amount of written law could tell him how to act.
However the rule of no tyrants was still in effect but in practice nomos
empsychos led to absolute rulers. Many of the Hellenistic Kings were
included in this practice and established complete authority during their rule.

Tacitus Reading

Pedanius Secundus: City Prefect is murdered by one of his slaves. It is

demanded that all 400 of his household slaves should be executed because
of their inability to protect their master. In Roman custom, any man who is
owned that domestically lives under a free mans roof needs to be executed
when their master is slain in this fashion.
Gaius Cassius: Argues for the execution of all 400 by orating that when exconsuls are so casually slain by the treason of a slave, other slaves should
have seen this coming and stopped the attack. Its seen here that Cassius
holds rank of utter importance and even if one was no longer in office, they
are still divine among the Roman people. Its feasible to slay all 400 because
they failed their master by their silence. For this many slaves to not know
that this happening was coming is inconceivable and it is their duty to
protect their master.