- Source
- Digesta Iustiniani Augusti. Mommsen, Theodor & Krueger, Paul, editors. Berlin: Weidmann, 1870.
- Translation
- AI-generated (gemini-3.5-flash) — machine translation; may contain errors
- Languages
- 日本語 · English · 简体中文 · 한국어
- CTS URN
- urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:1.8.9.pr-1.8.9.5
- Generated
- Humanitext Reader · reader.humanitext.ai · 2026-10-23
This section defines "sacred places," "shrines," and "holy things," detailing the authority required for consecration and the regulations regarding municipal walls.
[ULPIANUS libro sexagensimo octauo ad edictum.]
[ULPIAN, Commentary on the Edict, book 68]
Sacra loca ea sunt, quae publice sunt dedicata, siue in ciuitate sint siue in agro.
Sacred places are those which have been publicly dedicated, whether they are in a city or in the country.
Sciendum est1 locum publicum tunc sacrum fieri posse, cum princeps eum dedicauit uel dedicandi dedit potestatem.
It must be known that a public place can become sacred only when the emperor has dedicated it or has given the power of dedicating it.
Illud notandum est aliud esse sacrum locum, aliud sacrarium. sacer locus est locus consecratus, sacrarium est locus, in quo sacra reponuntur, quod etiam in aedificio priuato esse potest, et solent, qui liberare eum locum religione2 uolunt, sacra inde euocare.
The following must be noted: a sacred place is one thing, a shrine is another. A sacred place is a consecrated place; a shrine is a place in which sacred things are deposited, which can even be in a private building, and those who wish to free that place from religious obligation are accustomed to evoke the sacred things from there.
Proprie dicimus sancta, quae neque sacra neque profana sunt, sed sanctione quadam confirmata: ut leges sanctae sunt, sanctione enim quadam sunt subnixae. quod enim sanctione quadam subnixum est, id sanctum est, etsi deo non sit consecratum: et interdum in sanctionibus adicitur, ut qui ibi aliquid commisit, capite puniatur.3
Strictly speaking, we call “sanctum” those things which are neither sacred nor profane, but have been confirmed by a certain sanction: for example, laws are holy, for they are supported by a certain sanction. For what is supported by a certain sanction is holy, even if it has not been consecrated to a god; and sometimes it is added in the sanctions that whoever has committed an offense there shall be punished capitally.
Muros autem municipales nec reficere licet sine principis uel praesidis auctoritate nec aliquid eis coniungere uel superponere.
Furthermore, it is not permitted to repair municipal walls without the authority of the emperor or the governor, nor to connect anything to them or place anything upon them.
Res sacra non recipit aestimationem.
A sacred thing does not admit of valuation.
- 1.8.9.1Sciendum est
An impersonal construction using the gerundive, meaning "it must be known," which governs the accusative and infinitive clause locum publicum ... fieri posse. The correlatives tunc ... cum emphasize a restrictive temporal/conditional relationship: "only when ... then."
- 1.8.9.2religione
An ablative of separation used with the verb liberare (to free, release). In this context, it refers to releasing the place from "religious obligation" or "sacred status."
- 1.8.9.3capite puniatur
The ablative singular capite (from caput, head/life/civil status) functions as an ablative of penalty, forming the legal idiom "to be punished capitally" (i.e., by death). The ut clause with the present subjunctive passive puniatur serves as the subject clause of the impersonal verb adicitur ("it is added").
Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-07-12) · Revision history (2, latest 2026-09-22)
- 2026-09-22 AI review — source 2