7.1.1 There is a possible sale transaction or exchange of land already
between Metjen and the nswtyw, literally, “the-ones-of-the-king,”^303 in
the late Third or early Fourth Dynasty. However, the most impor-
tant Old Kingdom house-sale transaction is the Inscription of Tjenti
(Sixth Dynasty).^304 This record, presumably a copy or abridgment of
a papyrus document, is probably from the area of the mortuary tem-
ple of Chufu at Giza. The speaker seems to be the buyer. The text
utilizes sale phraseology known from later periods, for example, “to
bring away for payment” in the sense of “purchase.”^305 The sale
price is carefully recorded by means of a standard unit of value: the
shat.^306 The buyer then apparently takes a royal oath regarding the
future compensation for the interior items (“everything which is within
this house”).^307 The document was sealed (¢tm), perhaps at “the place
of sealing” in the presence of the court of the “Horizon of Chufu”
(Akhet-Khufu).^308 The numerous witnesses to the sale transaction of
Tjenti are a diverse group, including a builder, a phyle attendant,
a necropolis worker, and three mortuary priests.^3097.1.2 The vizier was apparently not responsible for sealing a sale
deed or witnessing the same, as was the case in the New Kingdom.
This seems rather to have been the responsibility of the witnesses to
the sealing procedure.^310the sale of a small house’ (in the Pyramid city of Khufu of the early Fourth Dynasty)”
(“Concept of Law,” 292). See also Goedicke, Rechtsinschriften.. ., 124 and 201–02
(a transfer of property for which royal permission is necessary).(^303) Endesfelder, “Zum Stand.. .,” 8–9; Gödecken, Meten.. ., 207–8; Goedicke,
“Appendix.. .,” 70–71. Metjen declares that he bought about 6,000 arouras of land
from nswtyw, a very sizable amount; see Baer, “Letters.. .,” 13.
(^304) Théodorides, “L’acte.. .”. See also Menu, “Ventes de maisons.. .” The sub-
ject may be either a house or a tomb (prhaving both meanings); see Théodoridès,
“L’acte.. .,” 729. See also Goedicke, Rechtsinschriften.. ., 150–51; Eyre, “Work...,”
29; Gödecken, Meten.. ., 204ff.; Boochs, “¢tm r ¢t”; Goedicke, “Bilateral Work-
contract.. .,” 76–78; Menu and Harari, “Notion.. .,” 148.
(^305) But see Goedicke,Rechtsinschriften.. ., 54–55 and 152–53.
(^306) On shat, see also Vycichl, “Shat.. .” See further Helck, Wirtschaftsgeschichte...,
116–17; Théodoridès, “L’acte.. .,” 720–23.
(^307) Boochs, “¢tm r ¢t,” 22. See also Posener-Krieger, “Prix.. .,” 325–29.
(^308) The procedure of sealing was of great importance. Cf. Urk. 1, 278, 13 (“sealed
before the king himself,” ¢tm r-gs nswt ≈s). On the ¢tm.tformation and expressions
of satisfaction in bilateral contracts, see Gödecken, Meten.. ., 291.
(^309) Théodoridès, “L’acte.. .,” 727.
(^310) Strudwick, Administration.. ., 333, who quotes Goedicke, Rechtsinschriften.. ., 41,
195 (= Urk. 1, 35, 157–58).
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