an immediate problem. As the scope of the orders widens to the
level of universal decrees, so their number diminishes precipitously,
and it is clear that legislation in the Austinian sense was not a major
source of new law.
Three main areas are covered by general decrees: constitutional
law, administrative law, and economic activity. A single decree may
contain provisions concerning more than one area; the Edict of
Irikagina covers all three.1.2.3.1 In the sphere of constitutional law, the Edict of Telipinu
lays down rules for succession to the Hittite throne. The Edict of
Irikagina restructures the royal control of some of the temples. A
unique document from the Old Assyrian trading colony at Kanish,
the “Statutes of the Colony,” sets out rules for convening the assem-
bly of the colony and for its making decisions.1.2.3.2 A source of administrative law was the genre of royal instruc-
tions, noted above, which were issued to various high officials in the
administration but also to such purely household institutions as the
Hittite royal bodyguard and the Assyrian royal harem. The admin-
istration also figures prominently in reform edicts, which contained
provisions directed at corrupt and oppressive officials (e.g. Irikagina,
Horemheb). Regulation of operations under the control of the palace
is also a concern, such as the saffron harvest mentioned in the Edict
of Horemheb and the royal granaries mentioned in the Hittite decrees.1.2.3.3 Decrees regulating economic matters had a wider scope,
affecting ordinary subjects directly. It was the practice of rulers to
issue decrees fixing the prices of commodities and services. Royal
inscriptions boast of this activity, the tariffs apparently being affixed
in a public place such as the city gate, but unfortunately no actual
examples have been preserved.^12 Nor do we know how strictly they
were applied by the courts or what the sanctions were for disobedience.
The broadest and most complex form of legislation was debt-
release decrees, which cancelled not only taxes and debts owed to
the crown but also debts arising out of private transactions, as well(^12) The law codes contain some price lists; see below.
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