The seminar will focus on Ulpian's De officio proconsulis (On the Duties of the Proconsul), a kind of guidebook that envisaged the mandate of the Roman governor from his arrival in the province to his departure. Reading Ulpian's treatise allows us to see the governor in action, and at the same time, to understand how the governor's actions were bound by the law. In other words, it's an example of how the thinking of jurists, their reasoning on equity and justice, early on implemented a rule of law, which guided rulers in their dealings with citizens. The seminar will also provide an opportunity to present and discuss the critical edition of De officio proconsulis currently underway, and to introduce participants to the study of jurists' works as literature.
Participation in the seminar, to which guest researchers will contribute (Michel Christol, Professor Emeritus at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, March 9, "Ulpien: biographie d'un juriste romain"; Hélène Ménard, Université Paul-Valéry, Montpellier 3, May 11, "Sans sépulture, ni funérailles? Le sort des corps des condamnés à mort d'après Ulpien, 9 De officio proconsulis, D. 48. 24. 1"), assumes a basic knowledge of Latin.
