Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §10.1.13.pr

Rules on Distances from Boundary Lines Drawn from Solon's Law

Passage 1637 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

In the context of the action for regulating boundaries, Gaius cites the Athenian law of Solon, which prescribes the specific distances to be maintained when digging, building, or planting near a neighbor's property.

[GAIUS libro quarto ad legem duodecim tabularum. ] §10.1.13.prSciendum est in actione finium regundorum illud obseruandum esse, quod ad exemplum quodammodo eius legis scriptum est, quam Athenis Solonem dicitur tulisse: nam illic ita est: ἐὰν τις αἱμασιὰν παρ᾽ ἀλλοτρίῳ χωρίῳ ὀρυγῃ, τὸν ὅρον μὴ παραβαίνειν· ἐὰν τειχίον, πόδα ἀπολείπειν· ἐὰν δὲ οἴκημα, δύο πόδας. ἐὰν δὲ τάφον ἢ βόθρον ὀρύττῃ, ὅσον τὸ βάθος ᾖ, τοσοῦτον ἀπολείπειν· ἐὰν δὲ φρέαρ, ὀργυιάν. ἐλαίαν δὲ καὶ συκῆν ἐννέα πόδας ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀλλοτρίου φυτεύειν, τὰ δὲ ἄλλα δένδρα πέντε πόδας.
[GAIUS, Book IV on the Law of the Twelve Tables.] It must be known that in the action for regulating boundaries, that rule must be observed which was written in a manner after the model of the law which Solon is said to have proposed at Athens; for there it is as follows: "If anyone digs a hedge-ditch next to another's land, he shall not cross the boundary; if he builds a wall, he must leave one foot; if a building, two feet; if he digs a grave or a pit, he must leave as much space as the depth may be; if a well, a fathom; and he must plant an olive tree and a fig tree nine feet away from another's property, and other trees five feet."

Notes

  1. 10.1.13.prSolonem dicitur tulisse — The verb "dicitur" (is said) usually takes a personal construction with a nominative subject (Solon dicitur tulisse), but here it is used with an accusative and infinitive construction (Solonem ... tulisse) in an impersonal manner.
  2. 10.1.13.prαἱμασιὰν ... ὀρυγῃ — The noun "αἱμασιά" originally means a "stone wall" or "hedge", but here it is the object of the verb "ὀρύσσω" (to dig), thus referring to digging a trench or foundation for a stone wall or hedge.
  3. 10.1.13.prπαραβαίνειν / ἀπολείπειν / φυτεύειν — These infinitives function as "imperative infinitives" (infinitives of command), which are typical in legal codes to express commands or prohibitions instead of imperative finite verbs.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §10.1.13.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:10.1.13.pr

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