Abstract

MONTEMAYOR ACEVES, Martha Elena. Leyes contra el crimen de magia (crimen magiae): la Apología de Apuleyo. Nova tellus [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.2, pp.201-222. ISSN 0185-3058.

Crime being an illicit action that offends the whole community and means a security risk for the Roman Republic, it calls for a public trial involving every member of that community. In Sabratha (Libya), around the year 158 A.D., we hear from a public trial to a man under the accusation of performing magic (crimen magiae). The man under trial, Apuleius, carries out a brilliant defense by making a plea that allows us to get acquainted with legal customs and practices in a Roman province. The purpose of this article is, then, to analyze the legal aspects involved in such an accusation, as well as the punishments inflicted on people found guilty of such a crime. As we will show, these penalties were established according to several laws: lex Cornelia de sicariis et veneficiis, lex duodecim tabularum, as well as some imperial constitutions.

Keywords : Apuleyo; derecho romano; ley Cornelia; ley de las XII Tablas; magia.