A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law

5.1.2 Divorce

Evidence for divorce is vague. Pestman suggests that an Old Kingdom

statue group wherein the woman’s figure is cut away may be evi-

dence of divorce.^231 The same scholar also cites Ptahhotep: “If you

marry a woman...do not repudiate her.”^232

5.1.3 Polygamy

While it is not impossible that polygamy may have been occasion-

ally practiced, it does not seem to have been the norm.^233

5.2 Children^234

In P. Berlin 9010, it is stated that the “elder children were treated

in accordance with their seniority, the younger in accordance with

their minority.” The age of majority may have coincided with the

onset of puberty.^235

5.3 Adoption

There are no clear examples of adoption in Old Kingdom Egypt.

Some suggest that the ̇m-k3, “mortuary priests,” were, in effect,

adopted by the endower, but this has been doubted.^236

6. P  I

There is much discussion concerning the nature of the ancient

Egyptian economy^237 and the closely connected problem of the exis-

tence of private property.^238 Individuals, particularly those of higher

(^231) Pestman, Marriage.. ., 59.
(^232) Ibid. However, the Instruction of Ptahhotep may reflect later (Middle Kingdom)
practice.
(^233) Kanawati, “Polygamy...”; idem, “Was Ibi.. .” for a possible example of
polygamy; idem, “Eldest Child.. .,” 250–51; Va chala, “Neuer.. .”; Strudwick,
Administration.. ., 7.
(^234) See, in general, Feucht, Das Kind...
(^235) Feucht, “Kind,” col. 428.
(^236) Allam, “Adoption.. .,” 6. See also Harari and Menu, “Notion.. .,” 148–49;
Kanawati, “Eldest Child.. .,” 250.
(^237) Bleiberg, Official Gift.. ., 5–12, 29–53. See also Müller-Wöllermann, “Waren-
austausch.. .”; Helck, Wirtschaftsgeschichte.. .; Warburton, Economy...
(^238) Théodoridès, “Concept of Law.. .,” 292 and “Propriété.. .”; Goedicke,Rechts-
inschriften.. ., 199–201; Menu, Recherches.. ., 43ff.; Kemp, Social History.. ., 81;
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