Скачать или смотреть Crazy Laws Of The Ancient Romans Part 4

1. Ban on Voting for Bald Romans:
In ancient Rome, there was a peculiar law that forbade bald or balding men from participating in voting. The exact reasoning behind this law remains unclear, but it was an established practice. It may have been rooted in superstition or the belief that baldness was a sign of inferiority. This law reflects the importance placed on appearances and social status in Roman society.

2. Emperor Vespasian's Tax on Public Urinals:
Emperor Vespasian, known for his frugality, imposed a tax on the use of public urinals as a means to generate revenue and maintain cleanliness in the streets. The tax, often referred to as the "urine tax," was collected from those who used public urinals. The collected urine was repurposed for various practical uses, such as tanning leather and laundering clothes, making it a valuable commodity in ancient Rome. This tax is an early example of a recycling and resource management strategy.

3. Trial by Ordeal:
In the Roman legal system, trial by ordeal was sometimes employed as a means of determining guilt or innocence. It was a form of trial where the accused person was subjected to a physically demanding or dangerous test. The idea was that divine intervention would protect the innocent while punishing the guilty. One example of this was the ordeal of retrieving a stone from a boiling cauldron. If the accused could retrieve the stone without injury, their hand remaining unscathed, they were deemed innocent. However, this method was both risky and painful, as it often resulted in severe burns and injuries, making it an unreliable and cruel means of justice.

These unusual laws and practices from ancient Rome offer insights into the customs, beliefs, and legal systems of the time. They demonstrate how societal norms and methods of governance could vary widely from modern standards and highlight the importance of understanding historical context when examining such practices.