[392]. The institutio alimentaria commemorated on the marble slabs (anaglypha) in the Forum and by the bronze tablets of Veleia and the Baebiani (C. I. L. ix. 1147; xi. 1455). It had begun with Nerva: puellas puerosque natos parentibus egestosis sumptu publico per Italiae oppida ali iussit (Aur. Vict., Nerva, xii.).
[393]. An entire article of the Digest (26, 1) is devoted to the tutela. Another one (27, 1) deals with excusationes, which are mainly exemptions from the burden of the tutela.
[394]. The distinction is thoroughgoing in the penal clauses cited in the Digest. It was already established in Trajan’s time (Plin. Ep. X. lxxix. 3). It is implied in Suetonius, Gaius, 27: multos honesti ordinis. It is doubtful, however, whether the distinction was already recognized in the time of Caligula.
[395]. Gaius wrote about 150 C.E., probably in the eastern provinces.
[396]. Abot ii. 5. The saying of Hillel has no direct reference to apostasy, and concerns rather arrogance or eccentricity of conduct. But it literally describes the act by which such a man as Tiberius Julius Alexander ceased to be classed as a Jew.
[397]. Cf. Plutarch, Numa, 17; Dionys. Hal. iv. 43.
[398]. Dig. 50, 2, 3, 3.
[399]. Cod. Theod. viii. 14.
[400]. Exodus xxi. 2; Josephus, Ant. IV. viii. 28.
[401]. Bab. Bat. 3b; Gittin 46b. The duty was regarded as of the highest urgency.