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THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT IN ANCIENT ROME
Pál SÁRY
The paper wants to give an overview of the moral and legal rules which protected the natural and built environment in ancient Rome. These rules prove that
environment protection is not a modern invention. A bonus et diligens pater familias was morally obliged to cultivate his own agricultural land carefully.
Both air and water pollution was legally sanctioned. A house-owner had to keep his own building in good condition. Each person was to keep the street outside his
own house in repair and clean. To take part in maintaining of the roads and bridges was a public obligation. The sewers were usually cleaned by those who were
condemned to public works. To throw out excrements, dead animals or skins to the public areas of the town was prohibited. Demolition of both private and public
buildings was strictly restricted. It is true that in ancient Rome environment protection was not full scope (e.g., animal protection was absent from Roman law),
but many elements of environment were legally protected.
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