From the monogamous principle of roman marriage to unions or relationships that did not respect it

Abstract

With the realization of the present work, we intend to make known the existence since Rome of a series of unions or relationships, of sexual and usually sporadic character, qualified as extramarital for not respecting the monogamous principle of Roman marriage. Our intention is, therefore, to provide a systematization of these practices that arose outside of what was considered legitimate Roman marriage and with full effects, because they did not respect the essential elements of this marital institution and, especially, with regard to the aforementioned monogamous principle. For this reason, in the first part of our study, we will look at the juridical scope of the lenocinium and at those other sporadic relationships with female prostitutes who were dedicated to the public exhibition and sale of their bodies, as well as we will finish by delving into the configuration of adultery in Rome; practices that, without a doubt, occurred during the existence of the Empire and that, in some way, showed the lack of respect for monogamy.