books,”^5 but scholars now generally understand them rather to be
batons, emblems of office, whips, or the like.^6
While numerous researchers do believe that there was a law code
in New Kingdom Egypt,^7 others deny that the Egyptians had com-
prehensive collections of laws possessing a validity independent of
the reigning pharaoh.^81.2 Royal Edicts^9
1.2.1 In the fragmentary Decree of Horemheb,^10 the king acts
against abuse of citizens by officials, and also reorganizes the courts
and the palace administration. The king forbids, for example, the
seizure of boats, declaring such an action “a transgression of the
laws (hp.w) of Egypt.”^11 Horemheb establishes harsh penalties, such
as the mutilation of noses and banishment to fortress towns on the
Asiatic frontier. The law courts were to be composed of the priests
of the temples and the mayors of the towns. Those serving well were
to be amply compensated by the king.1.2.2 Similar is the Nauri Decree, in which Seti I exempts and
protects Nubian property and personnel of a foundation of Osiris of
Abydos.^12 The most common type of administrative abuse would be
the forced labor of persons or confiscation of material.^13 Even the
highest officials in Nubia, such as a viceroy of Kush, are considered
as possible wrongdoers.(^5) Allam, “La Problématique...”
(^6) Van den Boorn, Vizier.. ., 29–32. But see also Posener, “Les quarante rouleaux
de lois.. .,” 63–66; Allam, “Traces.. .,” 16.
(^7) See also Lurje, Studien.. ., 126–32; Théodoridès, “A propos...”
(^8) Wilson, Culture of Ancient Egypt.. ., 49. See also Eyre , “Crime.. .,” 92; Johnson,
“Legal Status.. .,” 215; Edgerton, “Government.. .,” 154; Lorton, “Legal and
Social Institutions.. .,” 355.
(^9) Lorton, “Treatment.. .,” 56. See also Wilson, Culture of Ancient Egypt, 237;
Allam, “Quenebete.. .,” 50–53; Kruchten, Horemheb.. ., 64–65; Théodoridès, “For-
mation.. .,” 7–11.
(^10) Lorton, “Punishment.. .,” 24. See also Polacek, “Le Décret d’Horemheb”;
Shupak, “New Source.. .,” 3–4; Eyre, “Work.. .,” 209.
(^11) Urk. 4, 2244. Cf. Lorton, “King and the Law.. .,” 57. For remarks on hp.w,
“laws,” see also Kruchten, Horemheb.. ., 214–20.
(^12) See Spalinger, “Revisions.. .,” 31–39. On the Nauri Decree, see also Harari,
“Principe.. .”; Lorton, “Treatment.. .,” 25–27; Harari, “Recruitement.. .” See
Kruchten, “Gestion.. .,” 523–24, for similar decrees.
(^13) The series of persons or objects wronged or misused are: persons, goods, corvée
work, boats, and fields.
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