Discussões sobre as dinâmicas sociais e a prática agrícola na sociedade romana a partir do relato da acusação de ueneficium contra C. Fúrio Crésimo, segundo Plínio, o Velho

Abstract

As in contemporary times, the social and economic spheres of Roman society were intrinsically connected. This aspect can be observed in a case presented by Pliny, the Elder, and situated in the eighth paragraph of book 18 of his Natural History. In it, Furius Cresimus was accused by his neighbours of stealing their harvests by using supernatural means (ueneficium). When brought to court, the freedman defended himself from the accusation by convincing the jury that he hadn't committed a crime. Pliny's narrative, and its context of presentation within the work, allow us to investigate several questions regarding the socio-economic dynamics of Roman society. This paper aims to address some of those issues.