Ancient history

[Escutcheon]

Where did politicians have to stand in the forum with a rope around their necks when putting forward new laws? If the passed they lived but if not they were immediately strangled? Would help cut down a lot of our present nonsenses!
Thanks in advance.

[enfable]

What a good idea. Should also be applied when claiming any expenses not related to their role.

[Escutcheon]

It was something like "Alluria" but wasn't! It was in a newspaper cutting that I carried around for years (and quoted often to politicians) but it got mislaid when we moved house.

[Octavius]

Locri, southern Italy, settled by the ancient Greeks.

Google "Zaleucus".

[Escutcheon]

Many thanks Octavius.
Makes interesting reading.

[Octavius]

You have to admire him (in some way I suppose) for living by his own rules. One law he created was the death penalty for anyone who entered the senate house with any weapons. On doing so himself - by sheer forgetfulness - it was pointed out to him that he had a sword at his side and was thus breaking the law.

In recognition of this law he killed himself with the sword.

Daft sod.

[Escutcheon]

Yes. I thought that he had to wear a sword to put down some insurrection. He should have pleaded mitigating circumstances. He even blinded himself in one eye so that his son would not be totally blinded! You can take genius, democracy and fair play a bit too far.