1.4 Miscellaneous Non-legal Sources
1.4.1 Old Kingdom titles, often honorific, attest to the complexity
of the court and society. Scholars frequently attempt to determine
the specific functions of titles possessing a legal character.^33 The
appearance and disappearance of such titles may naturally reflect
reorganisation of the legal and administrative system.^34 However,
since there is generally no other evidence apart from the title itself,
the results are speculative.^351.4.2 The relatively abundant Old Kingdom tomb biographies are
normally of an idealizing character and reveal few details of the legal
system or legal cases. There are some exceptions, such as the Biography
of Weni, which mention, albeit vaguely, legal situations and trans-
actions. High officials often emphasize their probity: “I have given
bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked. I have never judged one
of two contestants in a manner in which I could deprive a son of
his father’s property.”^361.4.3 In a graffito, another worthy proclaims: “I did not rob another
of his property. No citizen^37 was driven from his plot. There was
never another complaining about me among all the people. There
was no one else satisfied with his favour (alone) without graft.”^381.4.4 Scarcely any literary texts survive on Old Kingdom manuscripts,
but several works, preserved on later papyri, may date from that
period.^39 The Teaching of Ptahhotep, for example, is often attributed(^33) On titles, see esp. Strudwick, Administration.. ., 172–346. On the legal significance
or meaning of names, see Ranke, “Personennamen.. .” (not seen).
(^34) Thus Strudwick, Administration.. ., 197, observing that the title fimy-r ̇.t wr.t
vanished after the early Sixth Dynasty, remarks: “Perhaps there was an adminis-
trative reorganisation at that time, the main result of which was to reduce the num-
ber of titles extant in various institutions.” See also Eichler, Untersuchungen.. ., 157–61,
and esp. 160–61, where he distinguishes between “rank-titles,” indicating the place
in the social hierarchy (e.g., smr-w'.ty), and official titles which do indicate a specific
activity; Eyre, “Work.. .,” 6; de Cenival, “A propos...”
(^35) See, e.g., Coulon, “Véracité.. .,” 119.
(^36) Inscription of Pepinakht, Urk. 1, 133.
(^37) n≈s, or “private person, commoner.”
(^38) Hatnub Gr. 22, 6–10 (Anthes, Hatnub.. ., 48–49); translation of Doret, Verbal
System.. ., 155.
(^39) But compare Schipper, “Von der Lehre des Sehetep-fib-re',” 172.
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