A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law

(Romina) #1
The eldest (?) son was generally expected to bury the parents.^429 In
P. Bulaq 10,^430 one party, who wishes to exclude his siblings from
inheriting, clearly states: “‘Let the possessions be given to him who
buries,’ says the law of the pharaoh.”

6.3.6 A document of exceptional importance for inheritance is the
will of Naunakhte (reign of Ramesses V).^431 It belongs to a small
archive relating to the inheritance of that woman. The archive com-
prises four documents containing six separate texts: Document 1; the
last will of Naunakhte, outlining the special arrangements for two
sons (two texts); Documents 2–3: the division of Naunakhte’s prop-
erty; and Document 4; the two dispositions of Khauamun (second
husband of Naunakhte).
In the second text of Document 1, Khauamun and his children
present themselves (again) in court and promise to execute Naunakhte’s
will exactly, which they were apparently not willing to do before.
One son, presumably unhappy with his share, seems to have dis-
puted the will previously, but now he swears an oath affirming not
to contest it again.^432
In her will, Naunakhte makes a special disposition, stating which
of her children are to inherit from her.^433 Naunakhte, who has been
married more than once, distinguishes her own property from that
of her current husband. She disinherits the four who failed to sup-
port her with a monthly income but expressly mentions that they
are to inherit from their father. A great concern of hers is to exclude
one of her sons in particular from further shares in her property.

6.3.7 In the Judicial Stela of Amarah,^434 a married couple confirms
that their property (consisting of field, slaves, and trees) is to go to

(^429) Allam, “Familie.. .,” 29; Johnson, “Legal Status.. .,” 184.
(^430) Janssen and Pestman, “Bulaq X.. .” See also Allam, Hieratische Ostraka...,
289–93.
(^431) ’ernÿ, “Will of Naunakhte.. .”; Pestman, “Accession.. .” See also Allam,
“Zwei Schlussklauseln.. .,” 17–20; Pestman, Marriage.. ., 162–64; Théodoridès, “Le
testament de Naunakhte...”
(^432) Pestman, “Accession.. .,” 177. Another example of a renunciation clause is
in the Stèle juridique, JdE. 52453, which is a fimy.t-pr; see Allam, “Zwei Schluss-
klauseln.. .,” 20.
(^433) See Allam, “Familie.. .,” 34; McDowell, “Legal Aspects.. .,” 215–17; ’ernÿ,
“Will of Naunakhte.. .,” 31.
(^434) Dated to the end of the New Kingdom; see Janssen-Pestman, “Bulaq X...,”
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