Controversia I BC
Cic. - Inv. (Cic.Inv.2.95)
Text
ut apud quosdam lex erat NE QUIS DIANAE VITULUM IMMOLARET. Nautae quidam, cum adversa tempestate in alto iactarentur, voverunt, si eo portu quem conspiciebant potiti essent, ei deo qui ibi esset se vitulum immolaturos. Casu erat in eo portu fanum Dianae eius, cui vitulum immolare non licebat. Inprudentes legis, cum exissent, vitulum immolaverunt. Accusantur.
Translation
For instance, a certain people had a law that prohibited the sacrifice of a bull-calf to Diana. Some sailors tossed on the deep by a terrible storm vowed that if they could gain the harbour which was in sight, they would sacrifice a bull-calf to the divinity whose temple stood there. It so happend that in that port there was a shrine of that Diana to whom it was unlawful to sacrifice a bull-calf. Ignorant of the law they landed and sacrificed a bull-calf. They are brought to trial.
Main Characters
Sailors
Characters
Issues
Concessio - status venialis per imprudentiam
Accusations
Unlawful sacrifice
Narrative themes
Diana, Sacrifice, Sailing, Storm
Legal references
Ar - sacrifice (ne quis dianae vitulum immolet)