Yeah, I suppose I shouldn't have left out that detail. Raping an unbetrothed virgin doesn't get the same treatment as raping another man's wife. I'd still say paying a fine and never being able to divorce counts as "discouraging" rape, but... damn.

[–] jarfil@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

An "unbetrothed virgin" wasn't a woman, Romans didn't even give them names at birth, just a serial number like Prima, Secunda, Tertia... and they were an expenditure to maintain until they could get sold in matrimony... guess for less than 50 shekels, or it wouldn't be much of a fine otherwise.