The law school of Beirut was a center for the study of Roman law in classical antiquity located in Beirut. It flourished under the patronage of the Roman emperors and functioned as the Roman Empire's preeminent center of jurisprudence until its destruction in 551 CE. The earliest written mention of the school dates to 239 CE, when its reputation had already been established. The school attracted young, affluent Roman citizens, and its professors made major contributions to the Codex of Justinian. The school achieved such wide recognition throughout the Empire that Beirut was known as the "Mother of Laws". Beirut was one of the few schools allowed to continue teaching jurisprudence when Byzantine emperor Justinian I (pictured) shut down other provincial law schools. The school's facilities were destroyed in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that hit the Phoenician coastline. It was moved to Sidon but did not survive the Arab conquest of 635 CE. Ancient texts attest that the school was located next to the ancient Anastasis church, vestiges of which lie beneath the Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut's historic center.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_school_of_Beirut

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1060:

Béla I the Champion was crowned king of Hungary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9la_I_of_Hungary

1921:

The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed and then came into force exactly one year later, establishing the Irish Free State, the first independent Irish state to be recognised by the British government. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Irish_Treaty

1953:

Vladimir Nabokov completed his controversial novel Lolita, five years after starting it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lolita

1988:

The Australian Capital Territory (flag pictured) was granted self-government. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Australian_Capital_Territory

2005:

Members of the People's Armed Police shot and killed several people in Dongzhou, Guangdong, China, who were protesting government plans to build a new power plant. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongzhou_protests

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Nicholine: Created by, in the style of, or pertaining to (any of several people named) Nicholas. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Nicholine

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Vain is the chiming of forgotten bells That the wind sways above a ruined shrine. Vainer his voice in whom no longer dwells Hunger that craves immortal Bread and Wine. Light songs we breathe that perish with our breath Out of our lips that have not kissed the rod. They shall not live who have not tasted death. They only sing who are struck dumb by God.   --Joyce Kilmer https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joyce_Kilmer