Aequitas Explained

Aequitas (genitive aequitatis) is the Latin concept of justice, equality, conformity, symmetry, or fairness.^[1] It is the origin of the English word "equity".^{[2] [3]} In ancient Rome, it could refer to either the legal concept of equity,^[4] or fairness between individuals.^[5]

Cicero defined aequitas as "tripartite": the first, he said, pertained to the gods above (ad superos deos) and is equivalent to pietas, religious obligation; the second, to the Manes, the underworld spirits or spirits of the dead, and was sanctitas, that which is sacred; and the third pertaining to human beings (homines) was iustitia, "justice".^[6]

During the Roman Empire, Aequitas as a divine personification was part of the religious propaganda of the emperor, under the name Aequitas Augusti,^[7] which also appeared on coins.^[8] She is depicted on coins holding a cornucopia and a balance scale (libra),^[9] which was more often a symbol of "honest measure" to the Romans than of justice.^[10]

Notes and References

1. Book: Jordan, Michael . Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses . 2014-05-14 . Infobase Publishing . 978-1-4381-0985-5 . 6 . en.
2. Web site: Equity | Origin and meaning of equity by Online Etymology Dictionary . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220929145030/https://www.etymonline.com/word/equity . September 29, 2022 . Online Etymology Dictionary . English.
3. Book: Jr, Daniel L. Rentfro . The Law of Freedom: Justice and Mercy in the Practice of Law . 2019-10-29 . Wipf and Stock Publishers . 978-1-5326-5102-1 . en.
4. Book: Vit-Suzan, Ilan . Architectural Heritage Revisited: A Holistic Engagement of its Tangible and Intangible Constituents . 2016-04-15 . Routledge . 978-1-317-17950-4 . 54 . en.
5. [Quentin Skinner]
6. Cicero, Topica 90, as cited by Jerzy Linderski, "Q. Scipio Imperator," in Imperium sine fine: T. Robert S. Broughton and the Roman Republic (Franz Steiner, 1996), p. 175.
7. Book: Adkins . Lesley . Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome . Adkins . Roy A. . Adkins . Both Professional Archaeologists Roy A. . 2014-05-14 . Infobase Publishing . 978-0-8160-7482-2 . 281 . en.
8. [J. Rufus Fears]
9. Book: McIntyre . Gwynaeth . Uncovering Anna Perenna: A Focused Study of Roman Myth and Culture . McCallum . Sarah . 2019-01-24 . Bloomsbury Publishing . 978-1-350-04844-7 . 120 . en.
10. Linderski, "Q. Scipio Imperator," p. 175.