Legal Definitions - nauta

In Roman law, a nauta refers to a sailor or anyone professionally involved in operating a vessel, whether at sea or on inland waterways.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of the term:

• Imagine a large Roman merchant ship, laden with grain from Egypt, navigating the Mediterranean Sea towards Ostia. The individuals responsible for steering the ship, managing the sails, and maintaining the vessel during the voyage would all be considered nautae. This demonstrates the term's use for those actively engaged in maritime trade and transport.

• Consider a Roman naval fleet preparing for battle. The crew members assigned to a warship, whose duties included rowing the oars, handling the rigging, or standing watch on deck, would be classified as nautae. This highlights their role in military operations at sea.

• A person hired to pilot a river barge carrying marble up the Tiber River to Rome would also be considered a nauta. Even though the journey is on an inland waterway, their professional responsibility for the vessel and its cargo aligns with the legal definition, which often carried specific duties and liabilities under Roman law.