This declaration is an explicit statement of the current interpretation of such Holy Law as has been sent down from the Temple of Roland, the Temple of Gregory, the Temple of Sian, the Temple of Morgan, the Temple of Pheobe and various other statements which have come from the Gods.

The age of majority is 12 years, and any person may enter into sexual congress with any other person or persons, providing all involved are at least 12 years of age. All free persons involved in any form of sexual congress must have willingly consented to that congress. The consent of a slave to sexual congress is not required in law.

The age of minority is 6 years, and minors may view adults engaged in sexual congress, and ask questions relating to sexual congress, in order to further their education in essential matters of life. The 12th birthday is the 2nd hurdle in life, and persons who's ages differ by one year who have been in a lasting emotional relationship since they were minors may "straddle the hurdle" when the elder is 12 and the younger 11. It is an offence punishable by flogging and 10 years of slavery for any other adult to engage in any sexual congress with any minor. This declaration includes slave minors.

Infants younger than 6 years old may not be involved in, or view, any sexual congress. To involve an infant in a sexual act is a crime punishable by death.

The Goddess Sian has Spoken, and promised her blessing to any female who asks it, such that no female shall conceive of an unwanted child. It is the declaration of Senate that for the health and well being of the Empire, all females regardless of age, shall be taken to the temple of Sian upon their first sign of sexual maturity, to receive this blessing. It is further declared that no female may be coerced, bribed, blackmailed, or in any other way forced to agree the conception of a child. It is declared that no female slave may be ordered to conceive a child.

The definition of adultery is for a male to conceive a child with a female who is not his wife or mistress. Adultery, if the charge is brought to court, is a crime punishable by flogging of the male involved, in public, 25 lashes a day for a week. Further, the child once born being is made a ward of the state, and the woman, after the birth, is taken into slavery for 3 years. An exception to this law regards a free male who uses a male slave to allow his wife or mistress to conceive. This is permissible in law if agreed in advance by all free adult members of the household.

In recognition of the need to maintain the population of the Empire, while granting those females who so chose the right to citizenship, it is declared by Senate that a female citizen who chooses to conceive a child will receive relief from all personal taxation for 3 years after the conception. It is further declared that a female citizen may enlist the services of any male citizen, priest or soldier in this process, providing the agreement of any mistresses and the wife of that male is formally obtained, without an offence of adultery taking place. The child will be a dependant of the female citizen, and the male concerned need not have any further contact with it, at the choice of the female.

The Divine Gregory has Spoken, that the preferred family unit is comprised of a man and his wife. By Law, outside the Temples, that is explicitly defined as a male citizen or military man, and his dependant wife. The God/des Morgan has Spoken, that the nature of man is to seek many partners, and that the nature of women is to seek sisterhood against men. Senate therefore declares that a man may take as many mistresses as he can support, except that if he has a wife, she must agree the entry of any mistresses into their family.

Due to the grave importance of marriage for the support and comfort of women, a promise of marriage by a man to a women is binding on the man. If not released from his promise by the woman, he must conduct the marriage within 2 years, or pay grand forfeiture as decided by a court to the family to which the woman belongs. Similarly a promise to take a woman as mistress is binding on the man, and if this is not enacted within 1 year, then forfeiture as decided by a court must be paid to the family of the woman. It is declared that prior to making such a promise to a woman, it is acceptable for a dowry to be negotiated between the woman's family and the man, and that such dowry as negotiated must be paid in full at the time the promise is enacted upon. Unpaid dowries may be enforced through the courts.

The Goddess Medea, the Goddess Gaia and the Goddess Tallia have all Spoken, that a female who chooses citizenship rather than dependency, should not be penalised for their valuable contributions made to the welfare of the Empire by being deprived of the support of family. Therefore it is declared that a female citizen may form life partnership with any other citizen. They may combine, or retain separate households, property, assets as they wish, without calling into compromise either of their citizenships.

Also, a female citizen may take a dependant woman as wife or mistress. A female citizen who does so takes the role of a male under the laws of promise and adultery in this case.

The blessing of Sian makes it such that actual sexual activity between men and women is not the subject of any laws, except in the case of rape: It is declared that a man rapes a free woman if he forces her to engage in a sexual act to which she did not consent, or from which, even if she did consent, she derives no pleasure, or from which even if she did consent, she suffers physical injury out of proportion to the pleasure she derives. The penalty for a first rape is flogging and 10 years slavery. The second rape is penalised by castration and a further 10 years slavery. A third rape is punishable by death. It is not possible in law to rape a slave.

The Divine Roland has Spoken, that the congress of man with man is a distasteful affair, yet the Divine Marcus has Spoken that the friendship of good men transcends any union of man with woman. Further the Divine Gregory has Spoken that as Man cannot bear children, then to lie beneath another man is against nature, yet the God/des Morgan has Spoken that if men cannot go together, then half the joy is removed from the world. These statements present a paradox, therefore Senate declares the following - namely that the formal partnership of men with each other is not recognised under law. Neither can men alone undertake the rearing of children. However, men together may undertake acts of congress for the seeking of pleasure, without any offence, except in the case of rape: It is declared that a man rapes a free man if he forces him to engage in a sexual act to which he did not freely and fully consent. It is not possible in law to rape a slave. Male rape is punishable as with female rape.

It is recognised that a female or group of females may engage in congress with either a female or male, under duress or bondage. In either case, then the female definition of rape applies i.e. if the person did not consent, derives no pleasure, or receives injuries out of proportion with the pleasure, then a rape has taken place. The penalty for this offence is flogging, 100 lashes, and 10 years slavery. It is not possible for any free female to rape a slave under law.

© Tim Hart 2003
For further details contact the GM.