La violazione dei sepolcri nella legislazione tardoimperiale

The violation of the tombs is a widespread crime in the late imperial age. Its seriousness is also evident from the fact that committing this crime becomes a just cause for divorce. The Title 9.17 of the Theodosian Code contains some laws on the violation of the tombs. These laws are not necessarily issued in times of major socio-political instability. In most cases, very severe penalties, but also only fines, were imposed, for example, for those caught in the act of demolishing tombs; for those who plundered the tombs; for those who removed columns or marbles from funeral monuments; for those who, out of greed for profit, demolished the tombs and transported the material to his home; for those who took material from the tombs fabricae gratia or to sell it; for those who exhumed and transferred the remains of the deceased or committed the illicit trade in the relics of the martyrs.