Symbolika vena vo vybraných rímskych právnych a literárnych prameňov

The institute of dos (dowry) represented a significant legal and socio-cultural phenomenon in ancient societies, particularly in Greek and Roman legal traditions. Far beyond a mere institute of matrimonial property law, the dowry beside naturally providing a degree of economic security to the wife symbolized legitimacy of marriage, social prestige but also power relations between the spouses. This article examines the symbolic dimensions of dowry in selected Roman and, to a lesser extent, Athenian legal and literary sources. It explores the evolution of dowry from the legal standpoint, tracing its transformation from a presumed purchase price for bride or gift in the archaic law to a legally recognised claim through an enforceable action upon the termination of marriage. Special attention is given to the social perceptions and practical consequences of dowry as depicted in Roman comical literature, especially in the works of Plautus. These sources reveal the dowry’s dual role as both a stabilizing legal institution and a mark of power, spousal power dynamics as well as social expectations. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that the dowry functioned not only as a legal institution but also as a complex symbol of marriage, social order, and in some cases of female empowerment in antiquity.