Question 38

The Twelve Tables at Rome stated that a son had the power

of life and death over a father if the father was unjust.

O True

False

The statement is False. The Twelve Tables, which were ancient Rome’s first code of laws established around 450 BC, aimed to provide a transparent legal framework for citizens. They did not grant sons the power of life and death over their fathers, even in cases of perceived injustice. Instead, they reflected societal norms prioritizing family hierarchy and paternal authority.

While Roman laws did have harsh penalties for various offenses, the concept of a son having life-and-death authority over a father was more myth than reality within the legal framework of Rome. Roman society placed a strong emphasis on familial bonds and respect for parental authority, meaning such an extreme imbalance in familial power would have been considered unacceptable.