Yesterday, we visited an old Roman city called Saepinum.
The outlines of the stone buildings still remain. Outside on the northern gate,
there is an inscription in stone dealing with incidents on the path from the
Abruzzi to the Tavoliere. The article I read talks about the how the standard
interpretation of the text and finds that it tells us nothing about the
management of the Patrimonium, imperial property. However, it does show that
the city practiced transhumance. Transhumance is an action or practice of
moving livestock from one area to another in a season cycle. Typically to the
lowlands in winter and the highlands in summer.
The inscription on the gate of Saeprinum are broken
into three sections or “letters”. It basically is requiring maltreatment of the
contractors for the Imperial flock or conductores
to end, thus ending losses to the Fiscus. The Fiscus was the personal treasury
of the emperors of Rome. Saepinum would detain the animals and contractors
claimed that their shepherds would steal some of the flock. The letter also
threatened investigation and eventual punishment for any stolen sheep.
The inscription indicates the outrages between
transhumant shepherds and farmers, and the regulation of transhumance by the
state. Overall, they basically were protecting their revenues which came from
the fees they charged for pasture rights. It’s very similar to tolls. Paying
for the right to cross and use the path.
In conclusion, the inscription doesn’t tell us anything
about Imperial Patrimonium which was the standard interpretation.
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