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9.1 Curses
In addition to secular penalties, curses play a role in Old Kingdom
legalistic texts,^333 for example: “It was for bread and beer that I
made this tomb. He who shall do anything against this tomb—let
the crocodile be against him in the water and the snake be against
him upon the land. Otherwise never would I do anything evil to
any man.”^334
In P. Berlin 9010, the oath taken by the three defence witnesses
contains the statement “Your basshall be against me, o god.”^3359.2 Letters to the Dead
Persons in difficult circumstances sent letters to deceased relatives
asking for help.^336 These letters, known from the Old Kingdom
onward, sometimes have a legal background, being especially asso-
ciated with problems of inheritance. It is quite probable that such
a letter would be the final attempt of an individual to seek justice,
the legal system proper having failed.9.2.1 The earliest example of such a letter is Cairo Linen 25975,^337
in which a wife and son write to the dead father. The dispute itself
seems to revolve about some furniture and possessions which have
been or are in danger of being seized. Servants have been taken
and the house devastated. The woman tries to enlist also the help
of their ancestors in their battle against those who have injured
them.^3389.2.2 The Hu bowl of a somewhat later date also contains the plea
of a wife to her deceased husband.^339 The woman quite clearly states
that she has carried out the necessary mortuary offering ritual and(^333) See Nordh, Aspects.. ., 85; Morschauser, Threat-Formulae...
(^334) Urk. 1, 226, Doret, Verbal System.. ., 85.
(^335) Nordh, Aspects.. ., 94; Green, “Perjury...”
(^336) Sethe and Gardiner, Letters to the Dead. See Boochs, “Niessbrauchs.. .,” 78.
(^337) See Théodoridès, “Droit Matrimonial.. .,” 35–44.
(^338) Sixth Dynasty; see Wente, Letters.. ., 211.
(^339) Ibid., 215.
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