The Legal Context of the Findings of Limyra

Abstract

This article surveys both canon and imperial law for legislation regarding Jews and Judaism until the 8th cent. C. E. Judaism was recognized by Roman law as a religio licita and Jewish rights were thus protected. But with the rise of Christianity to the official religion of the Roman empire imperial legislation disadvantaged Jews increasingly. Nevertheless Judaism remained a religio licita and different from pagans or heretics, Jews retained certain rights and a limited protection of the Roman state. The legislative situation in Roman imperial law reflects Christian canon law.