Legal Definitions - sacrilegium

sacrilegium

In ancient Roman law, sacrilegium referred to a serious offense that evolved in meaning over time. It originally described the theft or desecration of sacred objects or places, but later expanded to include the violation of imperial laws and decrees.

• 1. Theft or Desecration of a Sacred Thing:

  Initially, sacrilegium specifically meant the act of stealing or damaging something considered holy, consecrated, or dedicated to the gods. This was viewed as a profound offense, not merely against property rights, but against divine authority itself, and often carried severe penalties.

  • Example: Imagine a person breaking into a temple dedicated to the goddess Vesta and taking valuable silver offerings that had been consecrated for religious rituals and placed on the altar.

    Explanation: This act would be considered sacrilegium because it involves the theft of items specifically dedicated to a deity and held within a sacred space, directly violating the sanctity of religious property and the reverence due to the gods.

• 2. Violation of an Imperial Law or Decree:

  In the later Roman Empire, the concept of sacrilegium broadened significantly. It came to encompass the violation, neglect, or disregard of any imperial law, order, or decree. This expansion reflected the growing belief that the emperor's authority was divinely sanctioned, and therefore, disobeying his laws was seen as a form of sacrilege—an offense against the sacred nature of imperial power.

  • Example 1: Consider a provincial governor who deliberately ignores a new imperial edict requiring all citizens to contribute a specific amount of grain to the imperial stores by a certain deadline, despite clear instructions from the emperor's administration.

    Explanation: This would be an act of sacrilegium under the later Roman understanding, as the governor is intentionally neglecting or violating a direct command issued by the emperor, whose laws were considered sacred and inviolable.

  • Example 2: If a citizen were to publicly distribute pamphlets criticizing a recently issued imperial decree on public health measures, in defiance of an existing law that prohibited any public dissent or challenge to imperial mandates.

    Explanation: This act would also fall under sacrilegium because it constitutes a direct violation of an imperial law designed to uphold the emperor's authority and the sanctity of his decrees, treating the imperial will with disrespect.