G. 1, 17 i G. 1, 38. Uwagi na tle społecznych i demograficznych uwarunkowań ustawy „Aelia Sentia”

This article presents the results of research on selected age categories in the Roman law. The research concerned social and demographical conditions in Rome in the 1st century CE. The statute Lex Aelia Sentia adopted in the 4th year CE was one of the three statutes adopted by the Emperor Augustus to limit acts of freeing in ancient Rome. The limitation was the age barrier which had to be met by masters and slaves to make an act of freeing valid. For the master it was settled that he had to be 20 years old to give freedom to his slaves – up to that moment he had been deprived of autonomy to give them freedom. For the slave the limitation was set at 30 years of age. In other words, it was impossible – with some exemptions – to give freedom to a slave who was younger than 30 years.