Legal Definitions - poena pilloralis

POENA PILLORALIS

Poena pilloralis is a Latin term that refers to the punishment of the pillory, a device used in the past to publicly humiliate and punish criminals.

One example of poena pilloralis is the punishment of a thief who was caught stealing from a market. The thief would be placed in the pillory, where they would be locked in and exposed to the public. People passing by would often throw rotten food, mud, or even stones at the criminal, who would be unable to defend themselves.

Another example is the punishment of a person who was caught spreading false rumors or gossip. This person would also be placed in the pillory, where they would be publicly shamed and humiliated for their actions.

Poena pilloralis was a common punishment in the past, used to publicly shame and humiliate criminals. The pillory was a device that held the criminal in place, making them an easy target for the public to throw things at. This punishment was meant to serve as a deterrent to others, as well as a way to publicly shame the criminal and make an example of them.