42 dagmar kühn
or even loyal allies without any family relation at all.30 we have no defi-
nite information on the composition of the aramaean nuclear family, the
professions of its members, the number of children, the size of properties,
or even the economic status of families in the early iron age. therefore,
we must rely on comparisons with other patriarchal societies31 or with
later times under assyrian dominion. Some information can be had from
the so-called harran census lists.32 the assyrians drew up these lists to
provide them with the number of households in the harran area for tax
purposes. although these lists mirror the conditions of a later time and
of a limited geographic region under assyrian dominion, we can learn
something about the composition of families and their social and eco-
nomic status. the pater familias is listed first, followed by details about
his profession and the members of his family household.33 the nuclear
family consisted on average of four persons (parents and two children)
plus extended family relatives.34 the low number of children, an average
1.43 children per couple, can be attributed to high child mortality and
early marriage.35
the social situation of women within these patriarchal structures
appears to have been the classic situation of women in antiquity. they were
mainly engaged in housekeeping, rearing children, textile production,36
and most likely farm work (Kai 309: 21–22; 222: 21, 24).37 in small farm
families, every member of the household was an important laborer. Some
young girls worked in service to the king or the nobility.38
we also know nothing about the legal position of women in the ara-
maean kingdoms of Syria. the census lists of harran counted them as part
of the property of their husbands as per the laws in the ancient near east.
the women of a household were listed as nameless property.39 we have
no information as to whether widows, unmarried, or privileged women
could act independently in business or legal matters, as is later evidenced
30 See infra.
31 dion 1997: 289f, 294 hints at the proverbs of aḥiqar for information on patriarchal
and family structures in general.
32 For a thorough analysis of these lists, see Fales 1973.
33 dion 1997: 290–292.
34 dion 1997: 291.
35 Fales 1973: 117 and dion 1997: 291.
36 dion 1997: 296f.
37 dion 1997: 295.
38 dion 1997: 294f.
39 dion 1997: 290.