She gazed at him, grimly, as he spoke and swore his lying oath, until, her seething anger boiling over, she called on her train of captive women to attack the man, and drove her nails into his deceitful eyes, and (made strong by anger) tore the eyeballs from their sockets, and dipped her hand, and drank, stained with his sinful blood, not from his eyes (nothing of them remained) but from the holes that were his eyes. 

The passage I chose reflects the extreme model of the ideal ancient woman, which is the protective mother. Hecuba the Queen of Troy lost her husband and all her children at this point, and she cannot understand why she is still alive. In a rage of motherly anger, she rips the eyes out of the king killing him. Most times when a Woman kills a man in this context it is through the means of either poison, a proxy, maybe a knife in the back. There do not seem to be many stories of a woman physically overpowering a man just using her hands. That Hecuba does it here symbolizes what being a mother is supposed to mean to a woman. If woman are the guardians of the future, then Hecuba’s future is in ashes. In this case though Hecuba does not just seek revenge she goes further, showing elements of being insane. Hecuba drinks the blood from the eye sockets she just gouged out. Hecuba has literally become bloodthirsty, and near inhuman in her grief and rage at seeing her life and city left in ashes. The way Hecuba attacks the king with her nails also reminds me of the Athenian women who use sharp pointy brooch pins in a group to kill the lone surviving soldier who informs them all their husbands are dead. They respond with the same grief and rage as Hecuba. Many authors of ancient text depict women as grieving in over-the-top manners but mostly in display at funerals with tears and hair pulling. When these women were deprived of their future, their loss drove them to madness and violence.  

I chose the Twelve Tables because it represent one of the earliest codifications of law and reflects the foundational principles of Roman society. It’s fascinating to see how early legal systems sought to address complex societal needs, from justice and equality to property rights and family dynamics. The document provides a glimpse into how ancient Romans viewed fairness, morality, and the state's role. The passage that stood out most was Table III, Clause 2, which allows creditors to divide the debtor’s body among themselves if the debt goes unpaid. While it likely wasn’t enforced literally, including such a harsh symbolic law highlights the rigidity of early Roman attitudes toward debt and personal responsibility. I think The authors of the Twelve Tables aimed to create a clear, transparent legal framework that applied to all citizens, including the plebeians, who previously had limited access to legal protections. The document reflects a society deeply concerned with order, hierarchy, and the balance of power. It highlights a rigid social structure where citizens were categorized into patricians, plebeians, and slaves, each with distinct rights and responsibilities. This document supports other readings about early Rome that emphasize the importance of patriarchal authority and the division between social classes. For example, laws about women remaining in guardianship (Table V) and the prohibition of plebeian-patrician marriages (Table XI) reinforce the rigid boundaries of Roman society. I’d like to explore how the Twelve Tables were enforced in practice. Were some of the harsher laws, like dividing a debtor’s body, symbolic, or were they actually carried out?

Chosen Reading: The Twelve Tables

I chose The Twelve Tables because it is one of the earliest codifications of Roman law, and I was curious about how foundational legal principles shaped the social order in early Rome.

Passage or Detail That Stood Out:

One passage that stood out to me was the rule regarding debt: "After thirty days of default on a debt, the creditor may lay hands on the debtor." This stark approach to debt enforcement reveals a society deeply concerned with order and accountability but also highlights a rigid class divide.

Author’s Intent:

The authors of The Twelve Tables were likely trying to create a clear, accessible legal framework that would apply to all Roman citizens, promoting fairness and reducing arbitrary rulings by elites. However, it also served to reinforce the authority of the ruling class by codifying social hierarchies.

Insights About Time and Place:

This document reflects a time when Rome was transitioning from monarchy to a republic. The focus on property rights, contracts, and family law illustrates a society where social stability depended heavily on the enforcement of legal norms. It also underscores a patriarchal and class-based system where citizens had varying rights based on their social standing.

Connection to Other Readings:

Compared to other texts we’ve read about Roman aristocracy, The Twelve Tables seems more focused on practical governance rather than the moral or philosophical ideals often discussed by elites. It complements accounts of Roman discipline and order but contrasts with writings that emphasize civic virtue and political participation by all citizens.

Further Inquiry:

I would like to learn more about how The Twelve Tables were enforced and whether ordinary citizens had the power to challenge unjust rulings. Additionally, I’m curious about how these laws evolved as Rome expanded and how they influenced later legal systems.

The Twelve Tables, a foundational legal document of Roman civilization, exemplify early societies' efforts to codify and standardize justice. They reflect the inequalities and priorities of the time, with provisions in Table III allowing creditors to imprison debtors and divide their bodies if debts remained unpaid after three market days. The creators likely sought to create a transparent legal framework that balanced accessibility with authority, reducing arbitrary decision-making by magistrates and establishing clear rules for both patricians and plebeians. The document reveals a society deeply concerned with order, property rights and familial authority, emphasizing patriarchal control, inheritance, and class divisions. The harsh punishments for theft and dishonesty, along with strict procedural guidelines, underscore the Romans' preoccupation with discipline and accountability. The Twelve Tables align with other Roman legal traditions, but contrast in its punitive approach compared to later Roman legal traditions.

I selected the 12 tables fragments. The formulation of laws that represent the strict social order and property rights in early Rome is one particular aspect of The Twelve Tables that jumps out. The focus on stringent legal penalties and public enforcement illustrates how Roman society used clear, written laws to achieve justice and order. It also exposes the system's underlying inequity, especially concerning gender and class. By demonstrating The Twelve Tables' function in establishing a systematic and open legal system, the author hopes to emphasize the significance of this document as the cornerstone of Roman law. The book conveys Rome's efforts to strike a balance between justice and order through the codification of laws, but it also captures the social hierarchies and disparities of the times. A crucial step in moving from capricious decisions to uniform, written statutes is this codification.This record shows an early Roman society that upheld a strict class system and placed a high value on justice and order through codified rules. The Roman goal to establish an open and understandable legal system that provided predictability in government and disputes is reflected in the Twelve Tables. But they also draw attention to structural injustices, especially those related to gender and class, showing how legal frameworks both maintained and reinforced social disparities. This document emphasizes the value of law in establishing order and upholding social standards, which is consistent with earlier readings about early Rome. The Twelve Tables transform Roman ideals of honor and order into legally binding regulations, much like stories like The Rape of Lucretia do. By formalizing gender and class disparities, it also runs counter to more egalitarian principles, illustrating the conflict between hierarchy and justice in Roman society.I want to learn more about how The Twelve Tables impacted the evolution of Roman law, specifically with regard to the legal safeguards afforded to various sexes and social strata.

For this week’s response I have decided to analyze and discuss the primary source entitled “Selections from Metamorphoses” from Ovid. I chose this primary source because of the depiction of women in the various stories and how the decisions made by men impacted the women. I also liked the overwhelming presence of mischief, trickery and rage present in the stories. In the story entitled “Pyramus and Thisbe” two lovers from opposing families plan their escape but this ends in tragedy as Pyramus commits suicide believing Thisbe to be dead and upon her finding his corpse Thisbe does the same. This story is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” as star-crossed lovers are at the heart of the story though the catalyst of the suicide as well as the manner in which it is done is different.I found that both Pyramus and Thisbe’s final acts of love being stabs to sensitive regions such as the heart and groin is almost symbolic of themes present in the story. I also enjoyed this story because the cause of tragedy was their unwavering love as opposed to something more nefarious. Another story I thoroughly enjoyed was “The Lament of Hecuba, Priam’s Queen” following Hecuba who is suffering immense grief after the death of another child, her daughter Polyxena. Hecuba expresses the rage of her disgrace but remains hopeful as she has one son remaining. Upon arriving at his home she finds his body, and enacts revenge against his killer, eventually turning into a dog. I found Hecuba’s story interesting because of how it portrays her grief in different manners; her confusion of her daughter’s death, the jealousy she feels because her other deceased son cannot see what has become of their family and the lack of words she has upon finding her surviving son dead. I also was intrigued by her transformation and how it depicts the power if such immense loss. 

I have chosen the "Twelve Tablets," a set of Roman laws, as the reading for this week's response. I have selected this reading for my response for the week due to how similar it had been to the Ten Commandments of Abrahamic myth, as well as the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution. What caught my interest while reading the laws were its standpoints on Roman children. For example, in section one of Tablet 4, it writes, "A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly killed." When I first read that passage, I was astonished. Knowing how the Romans consulted their gods for nearly everything, I began to ponder how they would go about with this infanticide practice. Furthermore, to make certain their heirs were legitimate, the Romans had a "cutoff period" of childbirth. "A child born after ten months since the father’s death will not be admitted into a legal inheritance." While sounding absurd and/or peculiar through our modern lenses, it would have presumably been very efficient for making sure a mans children were biologically his own.

For this week response I chose to write about “The Twelve Table”.  The reason I decided to chose this reading because it seems like our modern version of the constitution.  In table 12, number 2 “If a slave shall have committed theft or done damage with his master’s knowledge, the action for damages is in the slave’s name.” When I read that part of the table I asked myself why would the blame only be on the slave and not on the master as well since he was aware of what the slave was doing. In my opinion I felt like Fragments was trying to show how the Roman laws were in ancient times, it also show the cruel punishment they had for theft and law breaker. This was during ancient  time where citizens abide by the law and knew the consequences if they didn’t follow. I would like to learn when Ancient Rome stop following The Twelve Table and follow different law. 

The reading I chose to pick was the Twelve tables fragments. This particular reading interests me cause it reminded me in a sense of a combination of the twelve commandments and the United States constitution. The particular detail that jumped out at me was Table IV. 1, where it stated to kill a deformed child. This detail while reading felt a bit inhumane and cruel but also reminded me to a similar practice that the Spartans in Ancient Greece did in their time period. What I think the author was trying to communicate was just establishing the laws that existed within Ancient Rome from this time. Many of the tables seem very unjust laws when analyzing from my point of view. Although the tables were created to make a balance within their society, a lot of the laws presented appear unfair. What I think this document tells us about this time and place it comes from is that from the tables many of the different laws give off tyrant like behavior towards citizens and slaves. How this document does relate to the other readings we have read so far is seeing Ancient Rome establishing their own system of citizens and slaves to follow which we have seen in comparison to Ancient Greece. 

The reading I picked for this week was The Twelve Tables. The reason I choose this document is because The Twelve Tables focused on fairness and keeping society organized. A detail from the document that stood o to me was how strict and harsh some of these laws were. Like letting creditors imprison debtors or worse if they couldn’t pay.  I think the author was trying to communicate how important laws were for keeping order in Roman society. In my opinion what this document is telling us about the time and place is that in Ancient Rome they needed these needed strict rules to keep their society organized. They cared about fairness but had harsh punishments. This document that seems to relate to our lessons as it shows Romans trying to build their perfect society by setting these rules and laws that all citizens must follow. I would like to find out if all these rules apply to also the most powerful members of this society. 

I chose Ovid's Selections from Metamorphoses. I enjoyed reading the different stories, and it was interesting to learn how each woman had different but similar experiences overall. I particularly enjoyed the section dedicated to Pyramus and Thisbe, as it can be compared to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. I also found the story of Phoebus’s pursuit of Daphne interesting. It was intriguing to learn that his obsession with Daphne originated from being struck by Cupid’s arrow out of fierce anger. I believe the author tried to emphasize the transformation women undergo to avoid being pursued or caught. From my understanding, the Romans placed significant reliance on the Gods and sought their blessings. They believed in fate and thought that the Gods could intervene in human affairs, either as a punishing or protective force. This suggests that the Romans had a deep dependence on their religion and divine influence. This reading strongly supports other readings about this time. There are countless stories of the Gods negatively intruding on human affairs, exerting their will upon humans, and forcing themselves upon women. I’d be interested to find out more about how Ovid’s Metamorphoses affected later writers and artists, and how its stories are still important today. 

The reading I chose this week was “The Twelve Tables,” fragments. This was because it reminded me of the 10 commandments, and I was curious if any of the rules would be bestowed below.

A detail that jumped out to me was Table IV.

1. A dreadfully deformed child shall be quickly killed.

This is interesting to me as I recently learned that "ugly laws" are a thing. Essentially, where people feel wronging someone human that looks deformed or less human is acceptable as they are unable to find the beauty or normality in them, it is interesting to see it even was true here. 

I believe the tablet was trying to convey a Roman set of laws inscribed on bronze tablets, laws that meant a lot to citizens enough to follow them. 

In my opinion, this document tells us about a time and place where, similar to today, society had rules and functions, and you needed to fit in; otherwise, you were scorned. It comes from a time in old-time history where the usual slaves had no rights, women were prestigious property, and men ran countries often in warlike fashion. 

This document seems to relate to and support a lot of the articles that I have read this semester, as women have a certain role in society to be good wives and mothers yet don't hold a lot of power; this is shown even in these two laws. 5. A child born after ten months since the father’s death will not be admitted into a legal inheritance.

Table V

1. Females should remain in guardianship even when they have attained their majority.

Table VI

I would like to find out how these laws were agreed upon. Were there multiple meetings? Was it the public that had a say? 

I chose the "Twelve Tables" because they are one of the earliest codified sets of laws in Roman history. What intrigued me about this document was how it represents the foundational principles of Roman society, especially the way it sets the legal framework that governed everything from property rights to family relations to debt. It's fascinating to think about how these laws helped to shape Rome’s transition from a collection of tribal customs into a more structured republic. Given the importance of law in shaping human societies, this seemed like a critical piece to understand not just Roman legal practices but also their social and political culture.A passage that particularly caught my attention was from "Table 8", which deals with debt and the consequences of owing money: "If a debtor has nothing to pay, he shall be taken to court and have his hands tied... if he cannot pay, he shall be sold as a slave."

This law seemed particularly brutal, as it clearly marks a time when personal debt could lead directly to slavery. The severity of this punishment tells us a lot about the economic realities of the time, where the divide between rich and poor was enforced not only socially but also economically, with debt serving as a potential pathway to personal servitude.The author(s) of the "Twelve Tables" were likely trying to communicate a strong sense of order, legal fairness, and transparency. By codifying these laws, they sought to eliminate the arbitrary nature of legal decisions and ensure that all Roman citizens (at least free men) had a written reference to know their rights and obligations. The brutal nature of some laws, like the one regarding debt, could also reflect the harsh realities of Roman society, where economic survival was often tied to the ability to repay debts, and failure to do so had serious consequences. On a deeper level, the law likely reflects a tension between social order and personal freedom, with the state’s desire for stability sometimes conflicting with individual rights.

The "Twelve Tables"reflect a society in transition, from a tribal, less organized state into a more complex, hierarchical society. Rome was developing from a republic with a nascent legal system into a world power with a written code of law to govern it. The codification of laws suggests a move toward rationalizing and structuring society, possibly as a response to social unrest or demands for greater equity between the plebeians (common people) and the patricians (aristocracy). The laws also highlight the tension between "elite power" (represented by the patricians) and the "plebeian desire for legal transparency" and fairness.This document supports readings about the "Roman class struggle" and the tensions between the ruling patricians and the plebeians.. At the same time, the harsh penalties in the Twelve Tables, especially regarding debt, seem to reinforce the systemic inequalities that allowed the patricians to maintain control over the plebeians.I’d be interested in learning more about how the "Twelve Tables"were implemented in practice and whether they were interpreted differently over time. While they were a codified set of laws, how were they applied in everyday Roman life, and how did they evolve with changes in the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire? Also, it would be interesting to compare the legal systems of Rome with other ancient societies to see how universal some legal concepts might be (e.g., property rights, punishment for debt), and where Roman law diverged significantly from other traditions.

Which reading did you pick? If there’s a reason it interested you, what was it?

I selected the fragments from The Twelve Tables because it represents one of the earliest codifications of Roman law, which had a significant influence on the development of legal systems in Western civilization. The idea of publicly displayed laws accessible to all citizens is particularly intriguing, as it marks a shift from arbitrary governance to more structured, formalized rule.

What passage or detail in particular jumped out at you as you read through it?

One passage that stood out to me was the law regarding the rights of a father over his children, particularly the power of the paterfamilias (the head of the household) to make life-and-death decisions. This absolute patriarchal control is striking, revealing the deep-rooted social hierarchies and rigid family structures of early Roman society, where power was concentrated in the hands of the male head of the household.

What do you think the author was trying to communicate?

The authors of The Twelve Tables were likely aiming to create a set of clear, publicly accessible laws to govern all aspects of Roman society—social, familial, economic, and legal. Their goal was to minimize corruption or bias by ensuring that laws were written down and visible to all citizens, thereby providing a sense of fairness and clarity, reducing the potential for arbitrary decisions by those in power.

In your opinion, what is this document telling us about the time and place it comes from?

This document tells us that early Roman society was highly structured, with distinct roles based on class and family hierarchy. The public display of these laws indicates a growing focus on law and order, especially in a rapidly expanding Roman state. It also highlights the deeply patriarchal nature of Roman society, where power was primarily held by men, especially the head of the household, and social life was heavily segregated based on class and status.

What about this document seems to relate to, support, or even contradict our other readings about this time and place?

This document supports the idea that Roman society was highly organized with a strong emphasis on legal and social order. When compared with other readings, it helps clarify how Roman principles of justice and citizenship were applied in everyday life. However, it may also contradict more idealized notions of Roman society as a bastion of liberty and equality, especially considering how the laws treated women, slaves, and the lower classes, often in deeply unequal ways.

What would you like to find out more about?

I would like to explore how The Twelve Tables influenced the evolution of Roman law and how these laws were enforced in practice. Additionally, I am curious about how the Roman public responded to these laws—whether they viewed them as fair and just, or if they saw them as tools for reinforcing the power of the elite