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The Gortyn law code, also known as the Great Code, is a legal code of civil law in the ancient Greek city-state of Gortyn in southern Crete. It is the oldest preserved law code in Europe, dating between 700 and 600 BCE. The code is inscribed on 12 columns of porous stone blocks, which were later incorporated into the exterior walls of the Odeion, a theatre. The Gortyn law code provides valuable insights into ancient legal practices and societal values in Crete, including the rights of women, rules regarding procedure, property laws, and issues of rape and adultery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Between 700 and 600 BCE, or 5th century BCE |
| Location | Gortyn, an ancient city in southern Crete |
| Language | Cretan Doric dialect, written in boustrophedon style |
| Format | Twelve columns, carved on porous stone blocks |
| Height | 5 feet (1.5 meters) |
| Lines | 53 to 56 lines per column, with over 600 lines in total |
| Content | Family law, civil rights, trade relations, property, inheritance, slavery, adoption, rape, adultery, divorce, marriage, etc. |
| Legal distinctions | Based on social class (free, serf, slave, foreigner) |
| Rights of women | Limited, but granted property rights in case of divorce |
| Rights of children | Adopted children given same inheritance rights as natural children |
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What You'll Learn
- The Gortyn law code is the oldest preserved European law code, dating between 700 and 600 BCE
- It was inscribed in 12 columns on porous stone blocks, later incorporated into the Odeion theatre's exterior walls
- The code covers family law, civil rights, trade relations, property, inheritance, and more
- Gortyn, an ancient Greek city-state in southern Crete, is the code's birthplace
- The Gortyn code is a revised version of an older code and is the closest to being fully preserved
The Gortyn law code is the oldest preserved European law code, dating between 700 and 600 BCE
The Gortyn law code, also known as the Great Code, is the oldest preserved European law code, dating between 700 and 600 BCE. It is a legal code that was the codification of the civil law of the ancient Greek city-state of Gortyn in southern Crete. The Gortyn law code is inscribed on twelve columns of porous stone blocks, which were later incorporated into the exterior walls of the Odeion, a theatre. Each column is approximately five feet (one and a half meters) high and contains fifty-three to fifty-six lines, totalling more than six hundred lines of text. The text is written in the Cretan Doric dialect, using the boustrophedon writing technique, in which alternate lines are written in opposite directions.
The Gortyn law code covers a wide range of important legal matters, including family law, civil rights, trade relations, property laws, inheritance, and the rights of women. For example, the code grants a degree of property rights to women in the case of divorce, entitling them to the property they brought into the marriage and half of the joint income derived from that property. The code also addresses adultery and rape, with punishments for adultery depending on the location of the crime and whether the woman had previously committed adultery.
The Gortyn law code is the most extensive monument of Greek law before the Hellenistic Age and provides valuable insights into ancient legal practices and societal values in Crete. It is considered a part of the tradition of Cretan law, which represents the substantial corpus of Greek law from antiquity found outside of Athens. The code is believed to be the work of a single sculptor, and while it is fragmentary, it stands as a significant testament to the legal and cultural history of ancient Greece.
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It was inscribed in 12 columns on porous stone blocks, later incorporated into the Odeion theatre's exterior walls
The Gortyn Code, also known as the Great Code, is a legal code that was the codification of the civil law of the ancient Greek city-state of Gortyn in southern Crete. The Gortyn law code is the oldest preserved law code in Europe, dating between 700 and 600 BCE. It is inscribed on 12 columns, each one approximately five feet (1.5 metres) high, and contains over 600 lines of text. The 12 columns were carved on porous stone blocks, which were later incorporated into the exterior walls of the Odeion, a theatre.
The Gortyn Code is written in the Cretan Doric dialect, using a writing technique called boustrophedon, in which alternate lines are written in opposite directions. This style of writing is reflected in the layout of the columns, with each line written from left to right and then continued immediately underneath from right to left. The text is a rich source of information about ancient legal practices and societal values in Crete.
The content of the Gortyn Code covers a range of important issues, including family law, civil rights, and trade relations. Notably, it grants a degree of property rights to women in the case of divorce, entitling them to any property they brought into the marriage and half of the joint income derived from their property. It also addresses the custody of children born after divorce, with children conceived before but born after the divorce falling under the father's custody.
The physical structure of the Gortyn Code is also significant. The 12 columns of text are inscribed on porous stone blocks, which were later incorporated into the exterior walls of the Odeion theatre. This suggests that the blocks may have been reused or relocated during the Roman era, as some of the blocks with inscriptions are quite worn and the text is barely legible.
The discovery and preservation of the Gortyn Code provide valuable insights into the legal and cultural history of ancient Crete, shedding light on the societal values and practices of the time.
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The code covers family law, civil rights, trade relations, property, inheritance, and more
The Gortyn law code, which is believed to date between 700 and 600 BCE, is the oldest preserved law code in Europe. It is inscribed on twelve columns of porous stone blocks, which were later incorporated into the exterior walls of the Odeion, a theatre in Gortyn. The text, written in the Cretan Doric dialect, covers a variety of important issues, including family law, civil rights, trade relations, property, and inheritance.
The Gortyn Code reflects the social and cultural dynamics of ancient Cretan society, providing valuable insights into practices such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. It also sheds light on social hierarchy and women's rights within this context. For instance, the code allowed women some property rights upon divorce and after widowhood, but ultimately upheld male supremacy in matters such as custody and marriage decisions. Adultery was punished similarly to rape, with higher fines for adultery committed within the household of the woman's father, husband, or brother.
In the context of inheritance, the Gortyn Code recognised adopted children as legitimate heirs, granting them the same inheritance rights as natural children. This ensured that property remained within the family household, often through the male line. The code also specified that if a person died without a will, their property would pass to their children or other familial descendants before being inherited by more distant relatives.
The Gortyn Code also addressed trade relations and the rights of different social classes. It reflected the relative status of individuals, with harsher penalties for crimes against free citizens compared to those against slaves. For example, the fine for the rape of a free citizen was significantly higher than for the rape of a slave.
Overall, the Gortyn Code offers a unique perspective on the legal and cultural landscape of ancient Crete, providing insights into societal values, family relations, and the rights and responsibilities of its citizens.
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Gortyn, an ancient Greek city-state in southern Crete, is the code's birthplace
The Gortyn law code, also known as the Great Code, is a legal code of civil law in the ancient Greek city-state of Gortyn in southern Crete. It is the oldest preserved law code in Europe, dating between 700 and 600 BCE, and is considered the most important Roman town on the island. The Gortyn code is the only substantial corpus of Greek law from antiquity found outside Athens. It is inscribed on 12 columns of porous stone blocks, which were later incorporated into the exterior walls of the Odeion, a theatre. The text is in the Cretan Doric dialect, and the writing technique used is boustrophedon, where alternate lines are written in opposite directions.
The Gortyn law code covers a range of important issues, including family law, civil rights, and trade relations. It grants a degree of property rights to women in the case of divorce, entitling them to any property they brought into the marriage and half of the joint income derived from that property. The code also addresses adultery and rape, with higher fines for adultery committed within the household of the female's father, husband, or brother. Adopted children are granted the same inheritance rights as natural children and are considered legitimate heirs.
The archaeological site of Gortyn is extensive and includes the remains of a large early Christian church. The law code is inscribed on a circular wall that may have been part of the city's bouleuterion, where the council of citizens convened, located in the agora of Gortyn. The wall is locked away behind gates, so visitors can only view it from a distance. The inscription has been dated to the first half of the 5th century BCE, and while it is the most extensive monument of Greek law before the Hellenistic Age, it is not the only example of a legal inscription in Crete. Other legal inscriptions have been discovered at sites such as Dreros and Prinias, but these tend to be shorter in length compared to the Gortyn law code.
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The Gortyn code is a revised version of an older code and is the closest to being fully preserved
The Gortyn Code, also known as the Great Code, is a legal code that was the codification of the civil law of the ancient Greek city-state of Gortyn in southern Crete. It is the oldest preserved law code in Europe, dating back to between 700 and 600 BCE. The code is inscribed in twelve columns carved on porous stone blocks, which were later incorporated into the exterior walls of the Odeion, a theatre. Each column is approximately five feet (one and a half meters) high and contains fifty-three to fifty-six lines, totalling more than six hundred lines of text. The text is written in the Cretan Doric dialect and utilises the boustrophedon writing technique, where alternate lines are written in opposite directions.
The Gortyn Code offers valuable insights into ancient legal practices and societal values in Crete. It addresses a range of important issues, including family law, civil rights, and trade relations. For example, the code grants a degree of property rights to women in the case of divorce, entitling them to the property they brought into the marriage and a portion of the joint income. Additionally, it stipulates that children conceived before but born after the divorce are under the father's custody. However, if the father does not accept the child, custody reverts to the mother.
The code also includes provisions for adopted children, who are granted the same inheritance rights as natural children and are considered legitimate heirs. Adultery is addressed, with fines levied against the male involved and higher fines imposed if the act occurred within the household of the woman's father, husband, or brother. Overall, the Gortyn Code represents a significant monument of Greek law before the Hellenistic Age and provides a window into the legal and cultural landscape of ancient Crete.
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Frequently asked questions
The Gortyn Law Code, also known as the Great Code, is believed to be the work of a single sculptor. It is the oldest preserved law code in Europe, dating between 700 and 600 BCE.
The Gortyn Law Code was discovered in 1884 on a support wall of a Roman odeum from the 1st century BCE. The wall belonged to an earlier building and was later incorporated into the newer construction.
The Gortyn Law Code covers a range of legal matters, including governance, court procedures, property laws, rape, adultery, divorce, inheritance, slavery, and the rights of women.
The Gortyn Law Code is one of the longest extant ancient Greek inscriptions. It is the most extensive monument of Greek law before the Hellenistic Age and provides valuable insights into ancient legal practices and societal values in Crete.
