Posted at 10:36h
in
Reviews
by Jonathan Oliver
In
ancient Roman religion and
law, the
sacramentum was an
oath or vow that rendered the swearer
sacer, "given to the gods," in the negative sense if he violated it.
Sacramentum also referred to a thing that was pledged as a sacred
bond, and consequently forfeit if the oath were violated. Both instances imply an underlying
sacratio, act of consecration.