Basilica

Basilica, a code of laws of the Byzantine empire, the compilation of which was begun in the reign of the Emperor Basil I., the Macedonian, completed by his son Leo, the Philosopher, and first published in 60 books in 887. Constantine Porphyrogénitus, the son of Leo, prepared an official commentary to it, as well as a revised edition of the work itself. It was very much an adaptation of the code of Justinian to altered circumstances, and is of great value for the interpretation of the Corpus Juris. Apparently the code was at first called The Revision of the Ancient Laws, next Hexkontabiblos, from its division into sixty books; and finally, before the end of the tenth century, it came to be called by its present name—apparently an elliptical form of basilika nomina ('imperial constitutions'). Some have supposed, however, that the name was derived from that of the Emperor Basil, as those legal forms instituted by his son were originally initiated by him. There are editions by Fabrot (7 vols. fol. Paris, 1647) and Heimbach (6 vols. Leip. 1833-70).