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Simple English definitions for legal terms
sacrilegium
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A quick definition of sacrilegium:
Sacrilegium is a word from ancient Roman law that means stealing something that is considered sacred. This was a very serious crime and could result in the death penalty. Later on, the meaning of sacrilegium changed to include breaking any law made by the emperor, even if it wasn't related to something sacred. So, if someone broke an imperial law, they could be accused of sacrilegium.
A more thorough explanation:
Sacrilegium (pronounced sak-ruh-lee-jee-uhm) is a Latin word that means the theft of a sacred thing. It comes from the words sacer, which means "sacred," and legere, which means "to steal." In Roman law, sacrilegium was considered a serious crime and was often punished by death.
An example of sacrilegium would be stealing a religious artifact from a temple or church. This act was considered a violation of the sacredness of the object and the place where it was kept.
In the later Roman Empire, sacrilegium was also used to describe the violation of imperial laws. For example, if someone disobeyed an order from the emperor, they could be accused of sacrilegium. This broadened the definition of the term and made it more general.
Another example of sacrilegium could be someone who damages or destroys a sacred site or monument. This act would be considered a violation of the sanctity of the place and could be punished as sacrilegium.
Overall, sacrilegium refers to any act that violates the sacredness of a thing or place, whether it is a religious artifact, an imperial law, or a sacred site. It was a serious crime in Roman law and was punished accordingly.