Una proposta interpretativa sulla stipe votiva dell'Ara di Saturno: nuovi dati sulla manumissio per mensam

This paper examines the controversial and little-studied form of servus liberation by means of an invitation from the dominus to participate in his mensa. In the sources, this institution, which the doctrine dates to the post-classical age, has a double denomination manumissio convivii adhibitione and manumissio per mensam, the reasons for which are not known, just as the relations with the manumissio inter amicos are not entirely clear. On the basis of the new elements provided by the study of the votive stipe of the Altar of Saturn and a different interpretation of the sources of indirect tradition, the hypothesis is advanced that this institution has a much older history than assumed by legal historians.