A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law

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new pharaoh commands that his evil wife be brought to him: “He

judged her in their (‘the court’s’) presence, and they gave their

assent.”^57

2.1.7 The king has authority over punishment by death^58 and mutil-

iation.^59 An official could suffer severe consequences for ordering

such a mutilation without the king’s knowledge.^60

2.2 The Legislature

As in the earlier periods, there is no evidence for an acting assem-

bly or legislature which confirmed the king’s decisions, but only a

court with an advisory capacity.^61

2.3 The Administration

The administration comprised separate bureaucracies dealing with

civil government, religious government, the military, and the royal

domain.^62 However, these bureaucratic divisions are not rigidly main-

tained; men from the priesthoods and temples, for example, could

fill judicial and police positions.^63

2.3.1 Central Administration

2.3.1.1 The king and the palace officials formed the central admin-

istration,^64 based for much of the New Kingdom in northern Memphis

and southern Thebes.^65 Vast royal holdings and the associated bureau-

cracy have been labeled the “Royal Domain.”^66 A “Royal Son” (not

a blood relation of the king)^67 ruled the rich province of Nubia. The

king and the royal court maintained contact with subordinates by

(^57) Lichtheim, AEL2, 210.
(^58) Baines, “Emhab.. .,” 45; De Buck, “Turin...,” 157, 163.
(^59) Van den Boorn, Vizier.. ., 119.
(^60) Vittmann, Elephantine.. ., 48. See also Peet, “Historical.. .,” 125.
(^61) See Allam, “Traces.. .,” 25, and “Legal Aspects.. .,” 137; Helck, Zur Ver-
waltung.. ., vii.
(^62) Trigger et al., Social History.. ., 208. See also Murnane, “Organization...”
(^63) Compare Murnane, “Organization.. .,” 196.
(^64) Cf. Edgerton, “Government.. .,” 160.
(^65) Trigger et al. Social History.. ., 214.
(^66) Ibid., 211.
(^67) Murnane, “Organization.. .,” 177.
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