EN
The article discusses the problem what an ancient trade contract was called. Did Greeks perceive it only as a barter exchange or a purchase agreement? Perhaps this difference was insignificant or irrelevant? In order to solve this mystery the author follows the footsteps of Gaius’ way of thinking, dating back to the Roman times. Although Homer cannot be considered a jurist, his texts provided Gaius with valuable input. They enabled the ancient jurist to a make well-grounded point in one of the most renown juridical discussion of ancient times between Sabinians and Proculians. The author analyzed Gaius’ text and searched for the original sense of Homer’s poetry so as to rediscover the true nature of an original trade transaction in ancient Greece.