Law and loca publica in Roman Times

The article focuses on the lawyer’s perception of public space (loca publica) in imperial Rome. Starting with the premise that public space was res publicae (public thing or matter) and as long as the use did not present a hindrance to others it was permitted in principle, but under no condition could the user become the owner of the public property, the author gives an outline of Roman legal thought on this subject. Four identical inscriptions from Pompeii illustrate a number of legal themes: the Roman legal definition of loca publica, the city as the owner, the nature of assets under Roman law, the position and role of administrative bodies and legal decisionmaking and verdicts.