a sr through appointment.^180 In the Sixth Dynasty inscription of
Henqwfrom Deir el-Gabrawi, is the statement “As for the ones among
them who belonged to the servants (mry.w), their position was made
into that of an official (sr).”^1814.2.2 The state was clearly interested in tabulating and classifying
the population; the exemption decrees may refer to the registration
of inhabitants.^1824.2.3 If not possessing a strictly legal sense, some words such as
n≈s, “commoner, poor person,” do seem to indicate a lower status,
if not one of complete servitude.^183 Thus in an Old Kingdom text
the speaker boasts: “I did not rule against a commoner (n≈s) because
he did not appear before me in the proper manner as a petitioner
bringing gifts.”^1844.2.4 Several other terms pertaining especially to land and those
cultivating it may have legal significance. Of these may be men-
tioned the mr.twho are “tenants on non-royal lands,” “perhaps includ-
ing usufruct lands.”^185 The mr.t are under the control of private
persons, mortuary foundations, and religious institutions. They are
mentioned in lists together with land and cattle.^186 However, they
are not necessarily slaves.^187 Mr.tmay belong to the “queen,” the
“princes,” or any “friend” or magistrate (smr sr nb).(^180) Coptos Decree M. But see Fischer, Dendera.. ., 101. On social mobility, see
Eyre, “Work.. .,” 38–39.
(^181) Schenkel, Memphis.. ., 43. See also Loprieno, Egyptians.. ., 191–92; Eyre,
“Work.. .,” 38–39.
(^182) See, e.g., Goedicke, Königliche Dokumente.. ., 76, 212, and 219; Fischer, Varia
Nova.. ., 52. Pirenne “Preuve.. .,” 9–25.
(^183) n≈s“Bürger,” Wb. 2, 385/11. Cf. Hornung, Gründzuge.. ., 41.
(^184) Schenkel, Memphis.. ., 78.
(^185) Lorton, “Legal and Social Institutions.. .,” 351. See now Garcia, “La Popula-
tion MRT”; Eyre, “Feudal Tenure.. .,” 111–12; Eyre, “Work.. .,” 35; Garcia,
“Administration.. .,” 125; Andrassy, “pr-“n',” 19; Helck, Wirtschaftsgeschichte.. ., 102;
Goedicke, Königliche Dokumente.. ., 35, 64, 211–12.
(^186) Compare also Urk. 1, 214, l. 12 (“consisting of mr.t, cattle, goats”).
(^187) According to Goedicke, Königliche Dokumente.. ., 146, Coptos D makes clear
that the mr.tare by no means slaves, in contrast to Bakir, Slavery, 23. See further
Goedicke, Königliche Dokumente.. ., 211–12.
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