Basilica (2)

Basilica or law books. The large Justinian compilation of Roman law (the so-called Corpus Juris Civilis), because of its being written in Latin, could not satisfy the wants in the East, a Greek translation being needed. In order to avoid all ambiguity, the emperor Basilius Macedo undertook the publication of a manual (Πρόχειρος νόμος) in the year 878 (published by Zacharia, Heidelberg, 1837), whlich was revised in 885 (Ε᾿παναγωγὴ τοῦ νόμου). Besides, he undertook Α᾿νακάθαρσις τῶν παλαιῶν νόμων (re-epurgatio veteruna legum) in sixty (comp. Πρόχειρος, § 3) or forty (Ε᾿παναγωγή, § 1) books, which again were revised by the emperor Leo the Wise in 886, and which received the title Basilica: ὁ βασιλικός (νόμος) or τὰ βασιλικά (νόμιμα), consisting of sixty books. It was edited, in connection with others, by Symbatius or Sabbatius. Of a later revision under Constantine Porphyrogenitus, we read in Balsamon, Voelli ef Justelli Bibliotheca Juris Canonis, ii, 814, but this statement is without any foundation. The Basilica are a Greek elaboration of Justinian's compilation, put together from older translations and commentaries, extracts from Justinian's Novelle, promulgated after 535, and from the Πρόχειρος of Basilius. Fragments of old versions and elucidations were added as scholia from the beginning, to which others were added, till finally a kind of glossa ordinaria was formed, which was also published by the editors. The manuscripts of the Basilica are all incomplete, and so also the editions. Single books were edited in a Latin translation by Gentianus Hervetus (Paris, 1557), Cuj!acius (1566), Labbaeus (1569). The Greek text, with a Latin translation and scholia, was first published by Fabrot (Paris, 1647, 7 vols. fol.). To these were added supplements by Ruhnken (Reitz, a. o.). The latest edition is, Basilicorum Libri LX post A. Fabroti curas ope codd. MSS. a Gust. Ern. Heimbachio aliisqve Collatorun Integriores cu Scholiis edidit, editos denuo recensuit, deperditos restituit, translationem Latinam ct adnotationem criticam adjecit Carol. Gull. Ern. Heimbach. (Lipsiae, 1833-48, 5 vols.): — Supplementum Editionis Basilicorum Heime bachiance Libri XV-XVIII Basilicorum edidit Carol. Ed. Zacharia a Lingenthal (ibid. 1846). On the history of the Basilica and their importance for ecclesiastical lanw, see Zacharia, Historice Juris Greco - Romani Delineatio (Heidelberg, 1839), p. 35 sq.; Mortreuil, Histoire du Droit Byzantin (Paris, 1843-1846), ii, 1 sq.; 3, 230 sq.; Biener, De Collectionibus Canoznum Ecclesice Grcecce (Berolini, 1827), § 5; Mejer, in Herzog's Real-Encyklop. s.v. (B. P.)