Legal Definitions - surdus

Term: Surdus
Definition: In ancient Rome, a surdus was a person who was completely deaf. They were not able to hear or speak. According to the law, a surdus was not allowed to make a will until the time of Justinian, who changed the law.
Example: In ancient Rome, a surdus would not have been able to hear the sounds of the city or communicate with others through speech. This made it difficult for them to participate in society and carry out certain tasks, such as making a will. Justinian's change in the law allowed surdi to have the same legal rights as others.