The Corona in Trials in the Late Roman Republic
Khrustalev Vyacheslav К.
In Late Republican Rome a circle of spectators (corona) was an indispensable attribute of every trial, both criminal and private. Corona was composed of friends and clients of the accused, young men studying rhetoric, as well as casual bystanders and simply those looking for entertainment. Those present at the trial were considered to be the representatives of the sovereign Roman people, whose presence should ensure legitimacy of the proceedings and fairness of the verdict. Corona is therefore to be understood as a kind of non-decision-making popular assembly. It was tacitly recognized that the people were allowed to express their opinion and even intervene in the proceedings when they thought the verdict to be unjust. Public consensus on judges’ decision was seen as desirable and important, so the jurors had to take into account the expectations of the audience.
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