It is compulsory to vote or else you are charged with a fine in Egypt. Travelers who need to extend their Egypt visa should do so as soon as possible. . According to Theodorides65 ancient Egypt does not present an example of the secularisation of law. I have three strange Egyptian laws: You can be imprisoned for In Australia, disturbing a wedding or a funeral is a big deal. Japan. 87 Idem 270-271. Some people feel that naming their children after someone who died so young is bad luck. Developed by IK. Source: apnews. Although same-sex sexual activity is not explicitly criminalised in Egypt, the charge of debauchery has been used to prosecute LGBT people. Tel: 312.332.7210, 312.332.7214 , 312.332.7216, 312.332.7217 When a person dies in Egypt, they are buried within 24 hours of their death or cremated right away unless there is an emergency situation preventing this from happening (for example, if there were no family members available). However, it was clearly governed by religious principles: it was believed that the law was transmitted to humanity by the gods at the earliest opportunity (the moment of creation), and the gods were held responsible for introducing and maintaining the law. Both systems seek justice, and both systems rely upon good judges to achieve it. But, it is important for those accustomed to viewing the law and legal procedures through the lens of a common law legal system to recognize that there are substantial differences in the way the two systems view and apply law. In some of the places in Africa, it is very much crucial to ask permission from the government to watch the news. If charged with a crime, the Egyptian legal system has different standards of evidence and due process. The law states that only the owner, pump operator or employee is allowed to pump the gas. Before Greek times, however, it was ultimately the king as the living god who was the supreme judge and legislator. Keywords: Ancient Egypt; emergence of Egyptian law; importance of religion; hp; hpw; maat; jurisprudence; justice; balance; impartiality; tradition; precedent; custom, Law has existed as long as organised human society, but its origins are lost in the mists of prehistory.1 The advent of writing left a record from which the living institutions of the past may be reconstructed. Yet mummification was an expensive and time-consuming process, reserved for the more wealthy members of society. Tutankhamun: A popular one! 92 Allam 2007: 264. It is furthermore important to note that this implies that the transfer of personal and landed property from one owner to another was known. Drinks on the landlord the one we want back. To have peace and order in society, you need a set of rules and regulations that all citizens must follow. 10 Best Books By Fyodor Dostoevsky You Must Read. Throughout history, humanity has relied on these early laws and today introduced a system of checks and balances in the legal system to guarantee the rights of innocent people and the opportunity to stand trial before a jury of their peers. Here, it is made illegal for two brothers/sisters to marry each other. In Britain, youre not allowed to let your pet mate with any pet from the royal house, else 5. After a person`s death, property was often divided equally between boys and girls. Religion then no longer determined the legal standing of a matter, but it was rather the juridical mechanism which became authoritative - even in the religious sphere.34 A well-known example of this is one of the central myths in ancient Egypt, namely "The Contendings of Horus and Seth", known from Papyrus Beaty dated to the mid-twelfth century BCE.35 It is a satirical account of the lawsuit between the god Horus, the rightful heir to the crown of Egypt, and his uncle, the god Seth, who usurped the crown by murdering Horus' father Osiris. In Hereford, you can shoot a Welsh person on Sunday, with a longbow, in the Cathedral Close. The ancient Near Eastern systems belonged - in varying degrees - to a common legal culture which was, however, very different from what we have today. Documentary evidence in funerary inscriptions confirms that private property did indeed exist and that it was transferable, with equality between husband and wife in the eyes of the law. Taking everything thus far said into account, it is my opinion that two very basic and fundamental elements of ancient Egyptian law may be identified and will now be discussed in the following subsections. After the 7th century bc, however, when the Demotic language (the popular form of the written language) came into use, many legal transactions required written deeds or contracts instead of the traditional oral agreement; and these extant documents have been studied for what they reveal of the law of ancient Egypt. 86 Ibid. Dont you dare step out of your house without wearing underwear, the Thailand police will not forgive you for it. Good one UK. GBP 4.99 (approx US $6.04)Economy Shipping. Egyptian law, the law that originated with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under King Menes (c. 2925 bc) and grew and developed until the Roman occupation of Egypt (30 bc). While witnesses were sometimes summoned, the judge usually decided on the basis of documentary evidence and the testimony of each party. Taking pictures of children is also Nevertheless, the most important matters were probably reported to the king, who would then decide on the case and the appropriate justice. The vizier was the king's delegate and the High-priest of maat as well as head of the courts of justice.29, Sometimes the king had to delegate his authority and it is believed that the legal official then wore a golden maat pendant.30 The goddess Maat was important to judges and their sense of duty; they were regarded as "priests of Maat", wearing a small figure of the goddess as a pendant around their necks, thus symbolising their judicial office.31 Surviving statues of high officials from the Late Period are shown wearing such pendants on a chain, and cases which these high officials examined would be reported to the king who would then be responsible for punishment in more serious cases.32. While there is no law per se governing what to wear in Egypt, it is important to bear in mind that the country has a conservative Islamic culture and dressing in a revealing way could attract unwanted attention. And men are the only force of action in prostitution? This region was also referred to as The Two Lands. It was divided into Upper Egypt (located south of Memphis) and Lower Egypt (north). 1. Webhumboldt county murders 2020 weird laws in ancient egypt. Egyptian law continued to influence Greek law during the Hellenistic period, and its effects on Roman imperial law may still be felt today. 19 Allam 2001: 263. Forbidden History Unexplained Egypt? The further back in time you go, the more impressive it gets! How is this possible? It should be the other way Law regulated the entire day-to-day business of existence in the Nile valley. That might sound like an unremarkable statement, but it has considerable importance in appreciating how central, even essential, legal texts are to the Egyptian concept of law and the rule of law. He was therefore expected to "rule by maat" and in order to attain maat on earth he had to make law.21 The word for law was hp (and the plural hpw) and "hp" was also later translated to include "regulations" and "statutes".22 It was essentially maat that necessitated the need for law and the king was therefore the link between law and maat (religion). That is just which is in accordance with right.69. A partial marriage settlement is discussed in detail in this papyrus.80 In this case the woman ceded a considerable part of capital to her husband, who in turn guaranteed her an endowment. 24 Van Blerk 2006: 17-18. By using our website you accept our Cookies Policy. In many ways, ancient Egyptian laws have survived to this day. Explicit sources of law from the Old Kingdom are rare, although there is considerable indirect evidence in the form of titles and references to legal institutions or situations.36 There must have existed an abundance of archival documents from the Old Kingdom since people, animals and crop yields all had to be counted, and we see, from scenes in the Old Kingdom tombs, scribes carefully recording the quantities.37 According to Muhs the Old Kingdom saw diversification of uses of writing compared to the preceding Early Dynastic Period: The first narratives from this period appear in the form of religious texts inscribed in royal tombs (so-called Pyramid Texts), biographies inscribed in the tombs, letters (both royal and private), agreements and court proceedings.38, The first discovered legal code dates from the late period (747-332 BCE)39 and according to Teeter there were only a few codified laws since the king was the highest judge from whom ancient Egypt and all laws emanated.40. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Continue with Recommended Cookies. A study of ancient Egyptian law should therefore always allow for the close relationship between law and religion. There are a number of things that all visitors should avoid while in Egypt in order to prevent any incidents with the law, as well as things they should do. The most heinous criminals could be judged only by the pharaoh, often with the vizier conducting the investigation and turning to the pharaoh for final judgment. You are not allowed to kiss on the train. In fact, we learn from a Greek writer that there were probably eight books at the end of the period that set out the legal code. The law in Egypt is very different from western countries. 5 Gahlin 2007: 339. Before the 7th century BC, most treatises and acts were oral, but with the advent of demotic writing, many legal transactions had to be written, and these documents give us a better picture of legal proceedings. 66 See Allam 2007: 272. Indeed, I never took a bribe from anyone.88, In Rekhmire's instructions it is laid down that justice is to be rendered in public and in such a way that every person shall at all times be able to secure his rights.89 In this regard, an appeal is made to a sense of equity and by implication to jurisprudence, as it is pointed out that the records of all judgments are kept in the archives of the vizier to be consulted. In Egypt, puns are punishable by prison. Egypts drinking laws are not as strict as in some Islamic countries. The law was passed in 1951 and seeks to reduce fire accidents caused by mishandling of flammable material by untrained personnel, and anyone violating this law is liable for a $500 fine. Those sentenced to life imprisonment on drugs charges will normally spend the rest of their life in prison with no possibility of parole or pardon. No public displays of affection should be shown in Egypt. 3. What are some laws that you find funny? One example is Tramadol. son home - public displays of affection are illegal -. So here are 23 weird laws from around the world, 20 Best Tiger Reserves In India You Must Visit, 15 Fun Ways To Celebrate Your Pets Birthday, Top 21 Things You Didnt Know About Rolls-Royce. 78 Idem 268. Everyone needs to name their child (or themselves) according to the particular name out of these 7000. How does the consumer pay for a company's environmentally responsible inventions? weird laws in ancient egypt. You should keep valid photo ID with you at all times. 63 See Theodorides 1971: 292. Even the gods themselves had to appear before a court in order to resolve their disputes. For eligible travelers, this means obtaining the Egyptian eVisa by applying online in advance. 68 See Pollard 1995: 435. According to Manning the so-called Codex Hermopolis is a collection of texts, or rather a manual, which provides guidance for legal solutions in unusual or difficult cases.62 The guidelines contained in this document were used by the priest-judges to resolve disputes and served as a guide to the writing of certain legal instruments. Witnesses sometimes were called, but usually the judge ruled on the grounds of the documents and the testimony of each party. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? Okay, now a rule that should be driven in every country, say all the wives.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'twinavocados_com-leader-4','ezslot_9',607,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-twinavocados_com-leader-4-0'); The government in Denmark has officially permitted a set of 7000 names. 10 Van Blerk 2010: 584. 30 Shaw & Nicholson 2008: 178. You will learn something about everything! Tourists are generally not expected to abide by Islamic dress conventions, such as wearing a hijab, unless visiting a mosque. Under the Ptolemies in the second century BCE, judgment was given in a matter regarding conflicting interests in a succession, with the procedure, although adapted, still retaining several elements of the old tradition. 32 Shaw & Nicholson 2008: 178-179. Twin avocados have super ballistic content to bring perfect sass into your everyday read. It is permitted to consume alcohol in licensed restaurants and bars, usually found in hotels and tourist facilities, which have been approved by the Minister of Tourism. This includes the Suez Canal. You may only own half a meter down in the ground of any land you own. WebWeirdest laws in history Ancient History They say the law is an ass, and thats definitely the case when it comes to some of the bizarre laws passed by monarchs and governments around the world over the centuries. Yes they did. They didn't have a lot of wood. Guess what they made them of? Papyrus. They tied the reeds together in a bundle. Thor Heyerdahl made Yes, yes, not even French kiss. 1. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Fact Site is the number one source for the most interesting & random facts about animals, celebrities, food, films, games & so much more. Fireman who file paperwork may have a moustache. consulateofegyptchicago@gmail.com, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite # 1150 Los Angeles, CA 90048 However, if they provide valid reasons why they cannot servesuch as health reasons or financial obligationsthey are exempt from serving in the army. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. However, the country does have a certain level of gender inequality for those who live there, including in employment, politics, and marital law. Women filing for divorce have to go through mediation with their estranged husband; men have no such requirement. 93 See Versteeg 2002: 26. It is illegal to name your child after a member of the royal family.. You cant name your child after a member of the 2. Egyptians drive on the right-hand side of the road. Drinking laws are not as strict as in some of the secularisation of law have. Ground of any land you own boys and girls Egyptian laws have survived to this.! 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