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adoption, the adoptee would receive a certain amount of silver, pre-
sumably his own contribution to the household (cf. RS 25.134) and
his share of common property (RS 21.230; cf. also RS 25.134) from
the adopter and leave. If it was the adoptee’s initiative, he would
leave only with his contribution (RS 25.134).^31- P I
6.1 Tenure
Conveyances of landed property are by far the best documented.
Royal land grants, for example, constitute about one third of the
domestic legal evidence. These personal landholdings from the palace
are basically described as “house” and “fields” but often also include
olive groves and vineyards, typical of this Mediterranean area, as
well as agricultural estates (Sumerogram [é.]an.za.gàr; Ug. gt).
This tenure was linked to the performance of (or exemption from)
certain taxes and services (cf. pilkuservice above).6.2 Inheritance^32
6.2.1 On the death of the head of the household, his legitimate
son(s) (either natural or adopted) would inherit the paternal estate
(viz. “the house of the father”) as well as the obligations or service
associated therewith. If a legitimate son had predeceased his father
but had legitimate sons of his own, the latter would be entitled to
his share. This sequence is evidenced by the usual phrase “and to
his (i.e., the alienee’s) sons,” sometimes followed by “and the sons
of his sons” in deeds of conveyance, referring to the transfer of prop-
erty and services.6.2.2 The eldest son was entitled to an additional share in the
inheritance of the paternal estate (see, e.g., RS 17.36 and RS 17.38,
and cf. the explicit equal-status clause in the adoption in brother-(^31) Note the symbolic expression of uncertain meaning, “he will hold his ears,”
in RS 16.344 (see Yaron, “Varia on Adoption,” 182f., and Malul, Legal Symbolism...,
100 ff.).
(^32) See Boyer, “La place des textes d’Ugarit.. .,” 304f.; Klíma, “Untersuchungen
zum ugaritischen Erbrecht.”
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