1.2 Administrative Orders and Documents
The Abu Sir papyri, which contain the records of the mortuary
temple of Nerferikara (Fifth Dynasty), also preserve occasional legal
information.^231.3 Private Legal Documents
Private legal documents, either original or quoted in tomb inscrip-
tions, are rare in the Old Kingdom proper.^24 They are preserved
from the late Third through the late Sixth Dynasties, but the late
Fifth Dynasty is best represented.^25 By the end of the Fifth Dynasty,
there is a tendency to provide greater personal detail in the tomb
biographies, graffiti, and expedition records.^26 Of particular impor-
tance are P. Berlin 9010, the record of a private court case (Sixth
Dynasty),^27 and the sale contract of Tjenti (Sixth Dynasty).^28 Most
of the legalistic tomb inscriptions deal with aspects of the mortuary
cults and estates. The oldest significant example of this type is from
the Tomb of Metjen (late Third to early Fourth Dynasties), which
provides data on the transfer of property.^29 Exceptionally important,
too, is the Inscription of Wepemnofret, in which he gives his son a
part of the tomb and offerings.^30 The few private legal texts do not
permit a confident reconstruction of a standard format.^31 Letters only
rarely refer to legal matters, although P. Berlin 8869 alludes to the
misdeeds of a Count Sabni, and mentions the “Court of Horus.”^32(^23) Posener-Krieger, Papyri d’Abousir. See, e.g., Kemp, Ancient Egypt, 141, and apud
Trigger et al., Social History.. ., 89–90; Van den Boorn, “w≈',” 8–9.
(^24) Most of the relevant texts are in Goedicke, Rechtsinschriften...
(^25) Ibid., 2.
(^26) Eyre, “Work.. .,” 6. Der Manuelian, “Essay.. .,” 1, suggests that the “duty
table” of Nikaankh is a “stone copy of a single, original legal document in its
entirety.”
(^27) Théodoridès, “Concept of Law.. .,” 295–300. Basic publication is in Sethe,
“Prozessurteil...” See also Théodoridès, “Propriéte.. .,” 44–57; Green, “Perjury...”;
Goedicke, “Zum Papyrus Berlin 9010” and Königliche Dokumente.. ., 8.
(^28) See Allam, “Quenbete,” 60–61; Théodoridès, “L’acte.. .,” 715–72; Helck, Akten...,
19–20; Doret, Verbal System.. ., 79.
(^29) Gödecken, Meten.. .; Endesfelder, “Metjen...”
(^30) Goedicke, Rechtsinschriften.. ., 31–43; Helck, Akten.. ., 22, 142.
(^31) See Helck, Akten.. ., 108–10.
(^32) Smither, “Old Kingdom Letter.. .” See now Vittmann, Elephantine.. ., 32–34.
See also P. Cairo 58043, Baer, “Deed...”
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