Bemerkungen zu den leges libitinariae

Remarks on the leges libitinariae. The article deals with several juridical aspects of the socalled leges libitinariae both from Puteoli and Cumae. It includes only minor hints to problems of criminal law. The focus is on the concepts of (munus) publicum and multa, characteristics of societas publicanorum as to small enterprises, personal responsibility of manceps (redemptor, conductor), jurisdiction in municipalities (recuperatores and iudex unus), appropriate formula (condictio incerti ex lege?), the legal nature of the leges (leges locationis - leges coloniae (municipii)?). To many of our questions, there is more than one possible answer, or even none. This originates not only in the fragmentary state of the leges’ transmission, but first of all, in our lack of knowledge of the historical and juridical background.