In the famous passage of D. 4.9.3.1, Ulpiano reported and commented on the heading
praetorium of the Edict that regulated the failure to return things entrusted to nautae, caupones
and stabularii. He highlighted the issue of the scope of the action honorary ex recepto respect to
civil actions (locati-conducti), to assure the integrity of the thing received in the case of maritime
transport. The same Ulpiano, continuing, recalled an innovation proposal and obtained in the
Augustan age by Labeo, which consists of a exceptio in factum, such as to relieve the shipowner
from the risk of deterioration of the thing in case of naufragium and vis piratarum.
The ‘readings’ of the passage have been numerous and often divergent. This seems to justify
a review, which, based on abundant and perspicuous readings that interpreters of the text have
provided, intended to further deepen the fragment D. 4.9.3.1, both in its content (initial and
successive, until Justinian) as the inside thoughts and work of Ulpiano.
Download files
Citation rules