i. The originators of laws (De auctoribus legum) 1. Moses of the Hebrew people was the first of all to explain the divine laws, in the Sacred Scriptures. King Phoroneus was the first to establish laws and legal processes for the Greeks. 2. Mercury (i.e. Hermes) Trimegistus first gave laws to the Egyptians. Solon was first to give laws to the Athenians. Lycurgus first devised legal structures for the Spartans by the authority of Apollo. 3. Numa Pompilius, who succeeded Romulus to the throne, first established laws for the Romans. Then, when the population was no longer able to bear the factious magistrates, they brought the Decemvirs (lit. the “ten men”) into being to write laws; these men set forth in the Twelve Tables the laws which had been translated from the books of Solon into the Latin language. 4. These men were: Appius Claudius, Genucius, Veterius, Julius, Manlius, Sulpicius, Sextius, Curatius, Romilius, and Postumius. These Decemvirs were selected to draw up laws. 5. The consul Pompey first wanted to undertake the collection of the laws into books, but he did not continue for fear of detractors. Then Caesar began to do this, but he was killed first. 6. And gradually the ancient laws became obsolete due to age and neglect; although none of them is still in use, nevertheless a knowledge of them seems needful. 7. New laws originated from Emperor Constantine and the others following him, but they were mixed and disordered.