Construction activity in Byzantium, from the perspective of a jurist

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Published: Dec 8, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/dchae.21806
Keywords:
Early/Middle Byzantine period Constantinople (mainly) Distances and openings between buildings View (especially to the sea) Protection of fruits Protection of privacy Quality of buildings Liability of employers and constructors
Ελευθερία ΠΑΠΑΓΙΑΝΝΗ (Eleftheria PAPAGIANNI)
Professor of History of Law Law School. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Abstract
This paper examines legislative texts from the Early and Middle Byzantine periods, mainly a regulation of emperor Zenon, the Novels of Justinian, Novel 113 of Leo VI and the 22th title from the Book of the Eparch (Eparchicon Biblion) regarding contractors («ergolaboi»). This study focuses on the concern of the emperors to keep the urban planning order and also presents information regarding ways that had been devised in order to bypass the law, as well as the activities and responsibilities of «ergolaboi», that is, the technicians who undertook the execution of a work. Especially regarding the Novel 113 of Leo which aims to protect privacy from prying neighbors’ eyes, it is argued that the Novel does not refer to the regulation of Zenon but to the private collection of Julian of Askalon. Finally, doubts are expressed as to the degree to which this legislation was applied in practice.
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