Here are collected the most strange and unintelligible laws of ancient and medieval civilizations. And some of them just terrify the brutality and arbitrariness of the authorities and even older relatives.
Each stage of the formation of the world led to the improvement and development of jurisprudence in all countries. The best legal field was developed in ancient Rome and Europe, but even there it did not do without absurd, and to date simply shocking, laws.
1. It is forbidden to cry for the deceased at a funeral.
In ancient Rome, the burial ritual was very unusual. In the procession, music played, the body was carried across the city, followed by mourners, i.e. hired strangers to show off sorrowfully for the deceased. Then came the singers, who sang only praiseworthy odes about the deceased, and behind them the actors showed comic scenes from the life of the deceased. And the more noble was the deceased, the more hired mourners for his funeral. It was in connection with this that a ban on crying during the funeral procession was introduced.
2. It was forbidden to wear a purple toga.
In those days, the Romans wore casual clothing, which was called toga. It was a large piece of woolen cloth wrapped around the body. Basically, such clothes were white, they could have gold stripes or a multi-colored ornament, etc. However, at the legislative level, a ban on purple-colored toga was imposed, it could only be worn by the emperor. But commoners of this color could not afford it anyway, since it was very expensive to cook a dye of this color for one toga.
3. Kill the lover of his daughter's father was allowed by law.
If the father found his unmarried daughter with a lover, he could legally beat him and even kill him, while the social status of the lover did not matter.
4. The law was forbidden to feast.
Even in ancient Rome, much attention was paid to luxury, or rather, there were many bans on it. One such law in 181 BC. e. was to limit the cost of feasting. A little later the law was tightened, limiting the number of guests to three. Only in the market days, which were three in a month, you could treat up to five invited guests.
5. The hair color of prostitutes was regulated by law.
The law appeared in connection with the fact that the Roman conquerors, returning from Europe, brought with them women captured in slavery, which were mainly sent to brothels. And since the women of those regions had light or red hair, the emperor issued a decree according to which all prostitutes should have dyed hair or lightened them.
6. Legal sanction for suicide.
In ancient Rome, to commit suicide a man required the permission of the Senate. A citizen who decided to take his own life on his own was required to file a petition with a detailed description of the reasons. And if the senate decides that the reasons are objective, then the applicant was given an official sanction for suicide.
7. Father could officially sell children into slavery.
According to this law, the father could sell his own children to slavery up to three times. And also he could decide for himself whether to sell them for a while or for good. The father also could demand to sell the child back to him, which again gave him the right to have power over the offspring, and he could again resell it.
8. Probationary period before marriage.
At that time in Rome there were several types of marriage, two were similar to our current version, and one gave the right to a probationary period before marriage. Those. the couple could live together a year before entering into official relations to understand whether it is worth linking the rest of their lives with each other. At the same time, if the girl left her future spouse for more than three days, then the trial period began anew.
9. A father could kill any member of his family legally.
In pre-imperialist Rome, the head of the family or father was the senior member of the clan. Even if the adult sons already have their own families, while their father lives, they, along with their children and wives, belong to him in the literal sense of the word. For example, a father could kill a wife for treason, sons for any offense, and daughters for extramarital affairs.
10. Execution by drowning in a leather bag with animals.
This kind of punishment in ancient Rome was provided for murderers of parents or close blood relatives. He was considered the most painful and most humiliating way to take life.
11. Execution by hanging.
In the 19th century, people were sentenced in England to be hanged for 220 types of offenses. For example, if the value of the stolen was more than 5 pounds, then a person was sentenced to be hanged, all were executed, even children.
12. Archery under the supervision of priests.
This law existed in Britain from the 9th to the 16th century. According to him, boys who have reached the age of 14 must practice archery under the close supervision of a clergyman. It is not clear why this law was created, but it was strictly observed.
13. Execution through the cutting of the nose.
Ancient China executed road robbers by cutting off his nose, so the attacker could easily be distinguished even in the crowd.
14. The daughter-heir must marry the elder brother of the father.
Such a law was issued in ancient Greece. At the same time, if the future spouse refuses to marry, the relatives of the daughter-heiress can file a lawsuit against him and force him to conclude a marriage by a court decision.
15. Each knight should have a lawyer.
In medieval Europe, wars often broke out, so the knights were practically not at home. However, someone had to control their property, it was supposed that their lawyers had to deal with it.
16. Mariam is prohibited from engaging in prostitution.
In Italy, a law was introduced for women named Maria. All owners of this name were prohibited from engaging in prostitution.
17. The law of Peter I on the behavior of a subordinate before the boss.
Literally: "The subordinate in the face of the authorities should look dashing and silly, so as not to disturb the person's superior by reasoning."
And here are some strange laws from the recent past.
18. The law for flying saucers.
The law forbidding landing on flying saucers in the fields of French vineyards, was published in the 50s of the twentieth century. It is still unclear what prompted the French government to create such a law.
19. Sending babies by mail.
In the United States, until the twenties of the twentieth century, it was allowed to send their own young children by mail. The law forbade such forwardings only in 1920, when the abandoned woman sent a parcel to her daughter's parcel.
20. The ban on smoking in public places.
In one of the European countries in 1908 a law was issued that prohibited smoking in public places. It would seem that nothing strange, but only women were subject to punishment, this prohibition did not apply to men.