Roman Law and the Legal World of the Romans

Documents

[25] FIRA 3.137

I, Gargilius Secundus, have bought a cow from Stellus Reperius Beosus at the Villa of Lopeteus in proper form for HS 125. Cesdius, centurion of legion V, and Mutus Admetus, centurion of legion I Rapax, served as witnesses. Let this agreement be free from civil law. Bought on 9 September [date uncertain]. A basic cash sale of a cow. For discussion of the final provi- • sion, see Chapter 22. The word translated above as “Rapax” (the nickname of a • legion) is indicated by the abbreviation “R.” There are other interpretations of this, including the idea that it stands for “ redhibitio ” (return of the item after sale) and that the last clause says no return will be allowed here. Between A, son of B (plaintiff), and X, son of Y (defendant), up to a value of 2,500 denarii , let there be judges. Since X served as guardian of A (which is the matter at hand), when X should in good faith give something to or do something for A, let the judges award that up to a limit of 2,500 denarii . Otherwise, let them acquit. The archive of Babatha contained three apparently identical • copies of this formula, written in Greek. It is virtually certain that this is the standard formula for the action to be used by a young person demanding that his or her former guardians [26] P. Yadin 28–30

261