A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Early Roman Laws 351
that after both these acts the heavenly signs and auspices
should not oppose it: whereas in the assemblies of the
tribes neither the previoiis decree of the senate was necessp/ry,
nor the ratification of the holy rites and auspices,
but only that the resolutions there taken should be finally
determined by the members of the tribes in one day.
III.
Laws of the Twelve Tables
Let the master of a funeral make use of a public officer
and Hctors.
Let it be lawful for him to use three mantles
Funerals,
in a funeral, a purple fillet for the head, and ten flute- Ancient
players.
^"^
'
Let him do no more than this. "'
Let none pour wine mixed with precious ointment into
dead bodies.
Let none make more than one funeral for one person, or
carry more than one bier in the funeral procession.
Let none make use of gold in funerals. But if the teeth
of the deceased are fastened with gold, let none be prosecuted
for burying or burning the deceased with that
gold.
Let not women scratch their faces or tear their cheeks or
raise lamentations on account of a funeral.
Let the praises of honored men be repeated in a gathering
of the people; and let songs of mourning, accompanied
with a flute, attend these praises.
Let the father have power over the life and death of his
The family
son. Let it be lawful to sell the son as a slave three times. erty.^'^°^"
If the father shall sell
the son three times, let the son be
free from his father.
Let there be a space of two and a half feet round the
outer wall of every house.
Let an oath be of the greatest force to insure credit.
Let no man take more interest for money than one per