Why the laws re the burial of slaves in the Twelve Tables?

Upvote:3

Those laws are part of a whole set of sumptuary laws that applied not only to slaves, but to citizens as well. For example, another law was that you were not supposed to throw gold into the bier or dress the deceased in more than three robes.

If you read the section on Roman sumptuary laws in the link provided above it summarizes the Roman attitudes towards eschewing luxury.

Upvote:6

I find at least two different sites that show different translations:

from here:

Anointing by slaves is abolished and every kind of drinking-bout. Let there be no costly sprinkling, . . . no long garlands, . . . no incense-boxes.

and here:

6a. ... Anointing by slaves is abolished and every kind of drinking bout ... there shall be no costly sprinkling, no long garlands, no incense boxes ...

These sources both list it as by slaves, not of slaves. I don't know which is the correct interpretation. You might list your source for reference.

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