The mentally ill in roman society (late republic and empire)

This paper analyzes how the Romans conceived and defined mental-illness, studying the mentally ill from a social perspective, and reflecting on the question of their marginality. Based on medical treatises, the law, and philosophical pieces I identify what kinds of mental deviations were considered...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Gazmuri, Susana
Formato: Artículo revista
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Asociación Argentina de Estudios Clásicos (AADEC) - Ediciones UNL 2025
Materias:
law
Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecavirtual.unl.edu.ar/publicaciones/index.php/argos/article/view/12756
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Sumario:This paper analyzes how the Romans conceived and defined mental-illness, studying the mentally ill from a social perspective, and reflecting on the question of their marginality. Based on medical treatises, the law, and philosophical pieces I identify what kinds of mental deviations were considered insanity and, at the same time study, the status that the insane had in society, the limitations that the law imposed to their actions and decisions, and the concerns that they posed to society. Finally, I propose that the madman had an ambiguous status from the social point of view.