answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Today probably the most common reference to a "praetor's chair" is that found in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (Act I, Scene III), when Cassius, one of the conspirators, if not the main conspirator, plotting Caesar's assassination, instructs Cinna, a co-conspirator, to "take this paper, And look you lay it in the praetor's chair, Where Brutus may but find it."

At the time of the Roman Republic and into the time of the Roman Empire, the administration of justice was the responsibility of a curule magistracy with imperium (the power vested by the state in the magistrate to do what he considers to be in the best interests of the state). Known as a praetorship, this was an extremely high office ranking only just below the office of consul in the cursus honorum; the sequential order of public offices.

The appointment was said to be a curule one because, as well as wearing the purple-bordered toga - the toga praetexta -signifying his rank and status, when hearing substantive cases, the praetor would sit on the sella curulis, a special seat, and a further symbol of the praetor's elevated rank and status. Traditionally made of or veneered with ivory, with curved legs forming a wide X, no back, and low arms,the praetor's chair would stand upon a tribunal (from the Latin, tribūnal, tribūnālis), a raised platform expressly erected for that purpose; to further emphasise the praetor's importance.

To explain the Shakespearean reference: In 44BCE, the year of Julius Caesar's assassination, Mark Anthony had been elected one of the two consuls of Rome. This was the highest legal administrative office in the Roman government, second only to Caesar himself. Cassius clearly believed that leaving a communication on the Praetor's chair minimised any risk of compromising the assassination plot or revealing the identities of those complicit in the plot.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is a praetor's chair?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What were roman judges that ruled in all legal matters called?

The Roman judges were called "praetors".


What is the giant pandas praetors?

The Emperor Penguin


What did praetors do?

The praetors were the second highest elected Roman official. Their main duty was overseeing the dispensing of justice. They could and did act as judges. However they were also able to raise and lead a army if necessary and many times ex-praetors were appointed governors of provinces when their elected term of office was over.


They oversaw courts?

The praetors were the officials who oversaw the Roman courts.


Who oversaw Roman courts?

Praetors, who were chosen to act as such for one year.


Who were the elected officials of the Roman Empire?

The consuls were the top in the Roman Republic and there duties were to head the army and run the government. Also there were two consuls and they could veto another. This kept things in the republic straight and in align.


What makes chair a chair?

A Chair is a Chair because c stands for comfortable. H stands for helpful. A stands for Amazing. I stands for Impressive. and R stands for Rester!!! that is why a chair is a chair. Thank you. Marina


What are the problem of the chair?

The chair's design is not attractive. The number of chair is too less. The chair's design sucks. The chair is heavy. The chair's quality is not good.


How were Romans consuls different from praetor?

Consuls served as the leaders and of the republic, while praetors were chief justices.


How many praetors were there in ancient rome?

From c. 244 BC there were 2 praetors - the praetor urbanus (for Rome) and the praetor peregrinus (for foreigners and non-citizens).This number was increased to 8 by Sulla (c. 80 BC).Julius Caesar increased this to 16 during his dictatorship (c. 45 BC).


What are chair covers?

Chair covers are the cloth or plastic (spandex) material which is used to cover the chair. Chair covers can be used to protect the chair or to decorate and make chair attractive.


What are some typical styles of a standard chair?

Some typical styles of a standard chair includes a wingback chair, barber's chair, arm chair, bench chair, and captain's chair. There are antique chairs and ultra-modern chairs.