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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §47.12.2.pr

Application of the Interdict Quod Vi Aut Clam to Tomb Demolition

Passage 8060 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Ulpianus cites the opinion of Celsus that when a sepulchre is demolished or a statue is removed from a monument, the Aquilian action does not apply, but rather the interdict concerning acts done by force or stealth is applicable.

[IDEM libro octauo decimo ad edictum praetoris. ] §47.12.2.prSi sepulchrum quis diruit, cessat Aquilia: quod ui tamen aut clam agendum erit: et ita de statua de monumento euolsa Celsus scribit.
[The same, in the eighteenth book on the Edict of the Praetor.] If anyone demolishes a sepulchre, the Aquilian action does not apply; however, proceedings must be taken under the interdict "quod vi aut clam". And Celsus writes to this effect concerning a statue torn away from a monument.
idem quaerit, si neque adplumbata fuit neque adfixa, an pars monumenti effecta sit an uero maneat in bonis nostris: et Celsus scribit sic esse monumenti ut ossuaria et ideo quod ui aut clam interdicto locum fore.
The same writer asks, if it was neither soldered with lead nor otherwise fastened, whether it became part of the monument, or indeed remained among our property; and Celsus writes that it belongs to the monument just as bone-receptacles do, and therefore that there is room for the interdict "quod vi aut clam".

Notes

  1. §47.12.2.prcessat Aquilia — Aquilia refers to the lex Aquilia (specifically the action under it, actio legis Aquiliae). Since a sepulchre is a religious thing (res religiosa) and not part of private property (res in patrimonio), the Aquilian action, which compensates for damage to private property, does not apply (cessat).
  2. §47.12.2.prquod ui tamen aut clam agendum erit — This refers to the praetorian interdict against acts done "by force or stealth" (interdictum quod ui aut clam). agendum erit is an impersonal passive construction with the gerundive, meaning "proceedings must be taken (under this interdict)."
  3. §47.12.2.prsic esse monumenti ut ossuaria — monumenti is a genitive of possession/characteristic ("it belongs to the monument"). It means that even if the statue was not fastened, it is considered part of the monument, just as ossuaries or bone-receptacles (ossuaria) form an integral part of it.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §47.12.2.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:47.12.2.pr

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