Define: Jus Antiquum

Jus antiquum, or the old law in Latin, refers to the traditional law developed in the classical period of Roman jurisprudence, completed in the second and third centuries. In the later Empire, there were two sources of law: the old traditional law (jus antiquum) and the later law from imperial legislation (leges or jus novum). Together, they constituted the entire body of law at the time, representing the development of Roman law from the earliest times to the later Empire.

The term “jus antiquum” (pronounced juh-s an-ti-kwuhm) is a Latin phrase used in Roman law to describe the old law, also known as “jus vetus.” During the later Empire, there were two sources of law: jus antiquum, which was the traditional law developed during the classical period of Roman jurisprudence, and jus novum, which was the later law that emerged from imperial legislation. These two types of law complemented each other and formed the entirety of the legal system at the time. They represented the culmination of the development of Roman law from its earliest stages to the later Empire. An example of jus antiquum is the Twelve Tables, which were created in 449 BC and served as the foundation of Roman law, marking the earliest attempt to establish a code of law in ancient Rome.

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This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.