Legal Definitions - praecipitium

Praecipitium is a Latin term that means "headlong fall." In Roman law, it refers to the punishment of throwing a criminal from the Tarpeian rock.

One example of praecipitium is the punishment given to the conspirators who plotted against Emperor Nero in 65 AD. They were thrown from the Tarpeian rock, which was a steep cliff in Rome.

Another example is the punishment given to the Roman general Manius Valerius Maximus Corvinus in 312 BC. He was accused of treason and was thrown from the Tarpeian rock.

The examples illustrate how praecipitium was a severe punishment in ancient Rome. It was reserved for serious crimes such as treason and conspiracy against the state. The Tarpeian rock was a symbol of justice and power, and being thrown from it was a public spectacle meant to deter others from committing similar crimes.