Questions were put to the god on the bark carried by the priests.
The god would answer “yes” by moving forward on the priests’
shoulders, while “no” would be indicated by a backward move-
ment.^536 The witnesses before an oracle are at least once referred to
as sr.w, “nobles, officials.”^5379.2.2 Another procedure was to write down two alternative responses
on papyri or ostraka and place them before the god (e.g., O. Gardiner
103).^538 The god would then answer by moving towards one of the
two responses. Such questions were naturally phrased in positive-
negative form: “Will one give the place to Menena as is her plan?”^5399.2.3 In a few cases the god is said to “speak.” Although mechan-
ical methods by means of which a priest could actually speak through
the god are not impossible, scholars seem to be most inclined to
understand this “speaking” in a metaphorical or figurative sense.^540
According to Lorton, the oracular deity did not so much give judg-
ments as confirm verdicts already reached.^541
The potential ability of the priests to manipulate the oracular
procedure is quite clear. P. Turin 1887 indeed preserves such an
accusation.^5429.2.4 It is difficult to determine when someone would turn to the
oracular procedure for redress and when he or she would resort
rather to the courts, the qenbet.^543 The same people who carried the
god about during the oracular procedure would presumably have
served on the local courts or qenbet.^544 Both criminal and civil mat-
ters were brought to the oracle.^545 The god might be called upon(^536) Still useful is ’ernÿ’s clear description of the procedure in Parker, Saite Oracle
Papyrus...
(^537) Janssen, “Rules.. .,” col. 294.
(^538) Allam, Hieratische Ostraka.. ., 169–71. See also McDowell, Jurisdiction.. ., 254–56.
(^539) McDowell, Jurisdiction.. ., 121.
(^540) Ibid., 109–10.
(^541) Lorton, “Legal and Social Institutions,” 357.
(^542) McDowell, Jurisdiction.. ., 111. See also Lichtheim, AEL2, 158.
(^543) The views of scholars differ. See McDowell, Jurisdiction.. ., 114, 116, 118, and
- See also Tovari, “‘Man versus Woman,” 168; Janssen, “Rules.. .,” cols. 296ff.;
Janssen and Pestman, “Bulaq X.. .,” 146; Théodoridès, “Concept of Law.. .,” 318;
Allam, Verfahrensrecht.. ., 89.
(^544) Lorton, “Legal and Social Institutions.. .,” 357.
(^545) Janssen, “Rules.. .,” col. 296; Allam, Hieratische Ostraka.. ., 28–29, 169–71,
193–95, 237, and Verfahrensrecht.. ., 21 and 108.
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