Legal Definitions - adultera

Adultera

In ancient Roman law, an adultera referred specifically to a woman who committed adultery. This term carried significant legal and social implications within the Roman legal system, distinguishing her from a man who committed adultery, who was subject to different legal consequences.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of an adultera:

• Example 1: Legal Proceedings in Ancient Rome
  During the reign of Emperor Augustus, a married Roman woman named Julia was discovered to have engaged in a sexual relationship with a man who was not her husband. Under the Augustan laws concerning marriage and morality, Julia would be formally accused and, if found guilty, legally designated an adultera. This classification would subject her to specific penalties, which could include exile, loss of property, or even more severe punishment, depending on the exact circumstances and the era.

  This example illustrates the direct application of the term within the Roman legal system, where a woman's infidelity led to her being legally labeled an adultera and facing prescribed consequences.

• Example 2: Historical Analysis of Roman Society
  A modern historian, researching the social status of women in the Roman Republic, might write about how the legal concept of an adultera shaped societal expectations and control over women's sexuality. The historian would analyze how the legal framework surrounding the adultera influenced marriage contracts, divorce proceedings, and the public perception of women who deviated from marital fidelity.

  Here, adultera is used in an academic context to discuss and analyze the historical legal and social implications of a woman's infidelity within Roman society.

• Example 3: Literary Portrayal in a Historical Novel
  In a historical novel set in 2nd-century Rome, a character, a wealthy senator's wife, is publicly accused by her estranged husband of having an affair with a gladiator. The husband, seeking to discredit her and seize her dowry, declares that she is an adultera and intends to bring charges against her under the relevant Roman statutes.

  This example shows how the term adultera would have been used in a social and legal context within Roman society, serving as a powerful accusation that could lead to severe legal and financial repercussions for the woman involved.