Admission requirements
None.
Description
No actual law codes from ancient Egypt appear to have come down to us, although several legal manuals have survived, which some authors suggest are the actual law codes. In this course we will examine some of the basic aspects of the Egyptian legal system. To achieve this, we will examine these manuals as well as hieroglyphic, hieratic and demotic sources such as sales, loans, donations, marriage and divorce, inheritance, lease, etc., including a famous lawsuit from Assyut (170 BC). The translations of these sources – mostly written on papyrus – will be provided prior to each class.
Course objectives
To acquaint students with the basic principles of the legal system of ancient Egypt and (demotic) papyrology using translations of legal documents from the Old Kingdom to the Roman Period.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar and own presentation.
Assessment method
Assement and weighing
Student presentation on a legal source (c. 25 minutes) for 30% of final grade (if a student scores an 8 for this presentation, (s)he will start the written exam with a 2.4).
Written exam at the end of the course after study of the mandatory literature (70% of final grade).
Resit
Resit if result of written exam is unsatisfactory (< 5.5). The grade for the presentation still stands.
Inspection and feedback
If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will be organized.
Reading list
J.G. Manning, ‘Egypt. Demotic Law’, in: (R. Westbrook (ed.), A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law, Vol. 2 (Handbuch der Orientalistik / Handbook of Oriental Studies. Ägyptologie I, 72/2) 2003, pp. 819-862
K. Donker van Heel, Djekhy & Son. Doing Business in Ancient Egypt (2012)
Registration
Registration for courses and exams takes place via MyStudymap. If you do not have access to MyStudymap (guest students), look here (under the Law-tab) for more information on the registration procedure in your situation.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website
Registration À la carte education and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in the context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), e.g. about costs, registration and conditions.
Exchange students having questions regarding registration, may contact the Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office Herta Mohr
Remarks
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