Infamia

In ancient Roman culture, infamia (in-, "not," and fama, "reputation") was a loss of legal or social standing. As a technical term of Roman law, infamia was an official exclusion from the legal protections enjoyed by a Roman citizen, as imposed by a censor or praetor.[1] More generally, especially during the Republic and Principate, infamia was informal damage to one's esteem or reputation. A person who suffered infamia was an infamis (plural infames).

For the album by Babasónicos, see Infame (album). For the TV series, see Infamia (TV series).

Infamia was an "inescapable consequence" for certain professionals, including prostitutes and pimps, entertainers such as actors and dancers, and gladiators.[2] Infames could not, for instance, provide testimony in a court of law. They were liable to corporal punishment, which was usually reserved for slaves.[3] The infamia of entertainers did not exclude them from socializing among the Roman elite, and entertainers who were "stars", both men and women, sometimes became the lovers of such high-profile figures as Mark Antony and the dictator Sulla.

A passive homosexual who was "outed" might also be subject to social infamia, although if he were a citizen he might retain his legal standing.[4][5]

Infamy

The modern Roman Catholic Church has a similar concept called infamy.

See also

References
  1. McGinn, Thomas A.J. (1998). Prostitution, Sexuality and the Law in Ancient Rome. Oxford University Press. p. 65ff.
  2. Edwards, Catharine (1997). Unspeakable Professions Public Performance and Prostitution in Ancient Rome. Princeton University Press. p. 67. ISBN 9780691011783.
  3. Edwards, Catharine (1997). Unspeakable Professions Public Performance and Prostitution in Ancient Rome. Princeton University Press. p. 73. ISBN 9780691011783.
  4. Richlin, Amy (1993). "Not before Homosexuality: The Materiality of the cinaedus and the Roman Law against Love between Men". Journal of the History of Sexuality. 3 (4). pp. 550–551, 555ff.
  5. Edwards, Catharine (1997). Unspeakable Professions Public Performance and Prostitution in Ancient Rome. Princeton University Press, 1997. p. 68. ISBN 9780691011783.
  • Smith D.C.L., LL.D, William (1875). "Infamia". A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. London: John Murray. pp. 634‑636.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)


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