Sexual Transgressions in Early Byzantine Law
Sexual Transgressions in Early Byzantine Law

Summary/Abstract: The article examines the sexual offences enumerated in title 17 of the early Byzantine legal code Ecloga (726 or 741). While several offences, such as adultery, rape, abduction, incest, and homosexual intercourse, were already addressed in the codification of Justinian and in the Novels, the Ecloga introduced additional crimes, including fornication, incest involving spiritual kins, and bestiality. These innovations are attributed to the incorporation of Old Testament precepts and the conclusions of the Synod of Trullo, reflecting Christian ideals of sexual abstinence outside marriage and the elimination of sexual pollution. Although the Ecloga generally aimed to provide fair treatment for offenders of both sexes and all socio-economic classes, its legal framework largely aligns with post-classical Roman law. A notable reform was the replacement of capital punishment with mutilating corporal penalties, demonstrating a vision of justice that emphasized prevention and rehabilitation over extermination of the offender.

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