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THE EDICT ON MAXIMUM PRICES Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, vol. III, pp. 801—841, 1055—1058, 1909—1953, 2208—2211, 2328 (=Economic Survey of Ancient Rome, T.Frank, 5:307— 421) and Transactions of the American Philological Association (1940) 71:157—74; Adapted in part from the translation of E. Graser [Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius, and Galerius] declare: As we recall the wars which we have successfully fought, we must be grateful to the fortune of our state, second only to the immortal gods, for a tranquil world that reclines in the embrace of the most profound calm, and for the blessings Of a peace that was won with great effort. That this fortune of our state be stabilized and suitably adorned is demanded by the law-abiding public and by the dignity and majesty of Rome. Therefore we, who by the gracious favor of the gods previously stemmed the tide of the ravages of barbarian nations by destroying them, must surround the peace which we established for eternity with the necessary defenses of justice. If the excesses perpetrated by persons of unlimited and frenzied avarice could be checked by some self-restraint—this avarice which rushes for gain and profit with no thought for mankind…; or if the general welfare could endure without harm this riotous license by which, in its unfortunate state, it is being very seriously injured every day, the situation could perhaps be faced with dissembling and silence, with the hope that human forbearance might alleviate the cruel and pitiable situation. But the only desire of these uncontrolled madmen is to have no thought for the common need. Among the unscrupulous, the immoderate, and the avaricious it is considered almost a creed… to desist from plundering the wealth of all only when necessity compels them. Through their extreme need, moreover, some persons have become acutely aware of their most unfortunate situation, and can no longer close their eyes to it. Therefore we, who are the protectors of the human race, are agreed, as we view the situation, that decisive legislation is necessary, so that the long-hoped-for solutions which mankind itself could not provide may, by the remedies provided by our foresight, be vouchsafed for the general betterment of all…. We hasten, therefore, to apply the remedies long demanded by the situation, satisfied that no one can complain that our intervention with regulations is untimely or unnecessary, trivial or unimportant. These measures are directed against the unscrupulous, who have perceived in our silence of so many years a lesson in restraint but have been unwilling to imitate it. For who is so insensitive and so devoid of human feeling that he can be unaware or has not perceived that uncontrolled prices are widespread in the sales taking place in the markets and in the daily life of the cities? Nor is the uncurbed passion for profiteering lessened either by abundant supplies or by fruitful years…. It is our pleasure, therefore, that the prices listed in the subjoined schedule be held in observance in the whole of our Empire…. It is our pleasure that anyone who resists the measures of this statute shall be subject to a capital penalty for daring to do so. And let no one consider the statute harsh, since there is at hand a ready protection from danger in the observance of moderation. . . . We therefore exhort the loyalty of all, so that a regulation instituted for the public good may be observed with willing obedience and due scruple, especially as it is seen that by a statute of this kind provision has been made, not for single municipalities and peoples and provinces but for the whole world…. The prices for the sale of individual items which no one may exceed are listed below.
Denarii I. Wheat 1 army modius a 100 Barley 1 army modius 60 Rye 1 army modius 60 Millet, ground 1 army modius 100 Millet, whole 1 army modius 50 Panic grass 1 army modius 50 Spelt, hulled 1 army modius 100 . . . . . . . . Beans, crushed 1 army modius 100 Beans, not ground 1 army modius 60 Lentils 1 army modius 100 Pulse 1 army modius 80 Peas, split 1 army modius 100 Peas, not split 1 army modius 60 . . . . . . . . Rice, cleaned 1 army modius 200 Barley grits, cleaned 1 modius 100 Spelt grits, cleaned 1 modius 200 Sesame 1 army modius 200 . . . . . . . . II. Likewise, for wines: Picene 1 Italian sextarius 30 Tiburtine 1 Italian sextarius 30 Sabine 1 Italian sextarius 30 . . . . . . . . Falernian 1 Italian sextarius 30 Aged wine, first quality 1 Italian sextarius 24 Aged wine, second quality 1 Italian sextarius 16 Ordinary 1 Italian sextarius 8 Beer, Gallic or Pannonian 1 Italian sextarius 4 Beer, Egyptian 1 Italian sextarius 2 . . . . . . . . III. Likewise, for oil: From unripe olives 1 Italian sextarius 40 Second quality 1 Italian sextarius 24 Salt 1 army modius 100 Spiced salt 1 Italian sextarius 8 Honey, best quality 1 Italian sextarius 40 Honey, second quality 1 Italian sextarius 24 . . . . . . . . IV. Likewise, for meat: Pork 1 Italian pound 12 Beef 1 Italian pound 8 . . . . . . . . Leg of pork, Menapic or Cerritane, best 1 Italian pound 20 Pork mincemeat 1 ounce 2 Beef mincemeat 1 Italian pound 10 Pheasant, fattened 250 Pheasant, wild 125 . . . . . . . . Chickens 1 brace 60 . . . . . . . . Venison 1 Italian pound 12 . . . . . . . . Butter 1 Italian pound 16 . . . . . . . . V. Likewise, for fish: Sea fish with rough scales 1 Italian pound 24 Fish, second quality 1 Italian pound 16 River fish, best quality 1 Italian pound 12 River fish, second quality 1 Italian pound 8 Salt fish 1 Italian pound 6 Oysters 100 100 . . . . . . . . VII. For wages: Farm laborer, with maintenance (daily) 25 . . . . . . . . Carpenter, as above (daily) 50 . . . . . . . . Wall painter, as above (daily) 75 Picture painter, as above (daily) 150 . . . . . . . . Baker, as above (daily) 50 Shipwright working on a seagoing ship, as above (daily) 60 Shipwright working on a river boat, as above (daily) 50 . . . . . . . . Muleteer, with maintenance (daily) 25 Veterinary, for clipping and preparing hoofs (per animal) 6 Veterinary, for bleeding and cleaning the head (per animal) 20 Barber (per man) 2 . . . . . . . . Sewer cleaner, working a full day, with maintenance (daily) 25 . . . . . . . . Scribe, for the best writing (per 100 lines) 25 Scribe, for second-quality writing (per 100 lines) 20 Notary, for writing a petition or legal document (per 100 lines) 10 . . . . . . . . Elementary teacher per boy (monthly) 50 Teacher of arithmetic, per boy (monthly) 75 Teacher of shorthand, per boy (monthly) 75 . . . . . . . . Teacher of Greek or Latin language and literature, and teacher of geometry, per pupil (monthly) 200 Teacher of rhetoric or public speaking, per pupil (monthly) 250 Advocate or jurist, fee for a complaint 250 Advocate or jurist, fee for pleading 1000 Teacher of architecture, per boy (monthly) 100 Check room attendant, per bather 2 a Castrenis modius, literally “the modius of the army camps.”
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