The University of Parma, through its full professor of Roman law, Luigi Pellecchi, will present an analysis of the role of the draw in Roman justice. The event will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 6 PM.
The conference, titled "Fortuna iudex: Roman jurists and declamators facing the draw," will be held at the Amphi archéo (ACH005), located at the Maison de l’archéologie. It will explore how the Romans used chance in the administration of justice.
Drawing from legal sources, the presentation will distinguish the role of the draw in organizing trials from its potential use in settling disputes. The minor declamation 350 by Pseudo-Quintilian will then examine the tensions between chance, judgment, and equity. The dialogue between law and rhetoric will thus illuminate the functions and limits of resorting to the draw in Roman justice.
