The university, splendor, and ruin of Berytus are celebrated by Heineccius (p. 351 - 356) as an essential part of the history of the Roman law. It was overthrown in the xxvth year of Justinian, A. D 551, July 9, (Theophanes, p. 192); but Agathias (l. ii. p. 51, 52) suspends the earthquake till he has achieved the Italian war.