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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §50.16.41.pr

Definition of Weapons and Inclusion of Clubs and Stones

Passage 8855 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Gaius's legal definition of the term 'weapons' (arma), explaining that it includes not only standard military gear like shields, swords, and helmets, but also clubs and stones.

[GAIUS libro uicensimo primo ad edictum prouinciale. ] §50.16.41.pr'Armorum' appellatio non utique scuta et gladios et galeas significat, sed et fustes et lapides.
[GAIUS, in the twenty-first book on the Provincial Edict.]\n The term 'weapons' does not only mean shields and swords and helmets, but also clubs and stones.

Notes

  1. 50.16.41.prnon utique ... sed et — The phrase 'non utique' expresses a partial negation ('not necessarily' or 'not only'), which, combined with the subsequent 'sed et' ('but also'), indicates an expansive interpretation: the term does not exclusively mean defensive or offensive military gear, but also includes everyday items used as weapons, such as clubs and stones.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §50.16.41.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:50.16.41.pr

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