Legal Definitions - adulterium

Definition: Adulterium (ad-uhl-teer-ee-uhm) is a Latin term used in Roman and civil law to refer to the crime of adultery. It can also refer to the punishment imposed for committing adultery.

In ancient Rome, adultery was considered a criminal offense only when committed by a married woman (adultera). Before the Lex Julia de adulteriis coercendis of 18 B.C., customary law allowed only immediate revenge of the husband. Under the Julian statute, the father of the adulterous woman was permitted to kill her and her partner (adulter) if he caught them in his or her husband's house. The husband's rights were rather limited; he was forced to divorce her, for otherwise he made himself guilty of matchmaking (pandering). Besides, he or his father had to accuse the adulteress of adulterium which now became a public crime prosecuted before a criminal court.

Example: If a married woman in ancient Rome had sexual relations with a man who was not her husband, she could be accused of adulterium. If found guilty, she could face severe punishment, including being put to death by her own father.

Explanation: The example illustrates how adulterium was a serious crime in ancient Rome, especially for women. The punishment for adultery was severe, and it was often the woman who faced the harshest consequences. The example also shows how the law treated adultery differently depending on the gender of the person committing the offense.