Freedom of speech in rome

Abstract

This paper reflects on the existence and exercise of freedom of speech in Rome. After asserting that Romans considered free speech as part of the liberties provided by the Republican regime, it is affirmed that it was not regarded as a human right but as a political entitlement. As nowadays, freedom of speech was valued not only for its importance to the speaker, but also for its relevance to the political system. The paper states that during the Republic, this right was intensively exercised trough both institutional and not institutional settings. Among the former were the contiones, the Senate, the courts and, surprisingly, the army. The latter were mainly the Forum, private associations and some kind of arts. The advent of the Empire deeply affected freedom of speech. Although it did not disappeared altogether, it ceased to be considered as a right (it was only tolerated) and became troublesome to the new political regime. Regarding its legal status, freedom of speech was never recognized as a right