1 Earliest Rome

12.2 A society of Diana and Antinous
Augustus and to the entire Augustan house, to us, to ours, and to our society, and may we
have made proper and careful arrangements for providing decent funerals for the dead!
Therefore we must all agree to contribute faithfully, so that we may be able to continue in
existence a [long] time. You who wish to enter this society as a new member, first read the
by-laws carefully before doing so, so as not to find cause for complaint later or bequeath a
lawsuit to your heir.
By-laws of the Society
(20) [It was voted] unanimously that whoever wishes to enter this society shall pay an
entry fee of 100 sestertii and an amphora of good wine, and shall pay monthly dues of 5
asses . 4
It was also voted that if anyone has not paid his dues for six
consecutive months and the common lot of mankind befalls him, his claim to burial shall
not be considered, even if he has made provision for it in his will. It was also voted that
upon the decease of a paid-up member of our body there will be due to him from the
fund 300 sestertii, from which sum will be deducted a funeral fee of 50 sestertii to be
distributed at the pyre; the obsequies, furthermore, will be performed on foot.
(26) It was also voted that if a member dies more than 20 miles away from town and
notification is made, three people chosen from our body will be required to go there to
arrange for his funeral; they will be required to render an account in good faith to the
membership, and if they are found guilty of any fraud they shall pay a quadruple fine;
they will be given [money for the funeral costs], and in addition a return trip allowance
of 20 sestertH each. But if a member dies further than 20 miles [from town] and
notification is unable to be made, then his funeral costs, less emoluments and funeral fee,
[may be claimed], in accordance with the by-laws of the society, by the man who buries
him, if he so attests by an affidavit signed with the seals of seven Roman citizens, and the
matter is approved, and he gives security against anyone's claiming any further sum. Let
no malice aforethought attend! And let no patron or patroness, master
or mistress, or creditor have any right of claim against this society unless he has been
named heir in a will. If a member dies intestate, the details of his burial will be decided
by the qidnquennalis and the membership.
(3) It was also voted that if a slave member of this society dies, and his master or
mistress unreasonably refuses to relinquish his body for burial, and he has not left written
instructions, a token funeral ceremony will be held.
(5) It was also voted that if any member takes his own life for any reason whatever, his
claim to burial shall not be considered.
(7) It was also voted that if any slave member of this society is liberated, he is required
to donate an amphora of good wine.
(8) It was also voted that if any president, In the year when It is his turn in the
membership list to provide dinner, fails to comply and does not do so, he shall pay thirty
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