Law Code of Gortyn
The Law Code of Gortyn is recognized as the oldest preserved legal code in Europe, dating back to between 700 and 600 B.C.E. Found in the ancient Roman town of Gortyn on the island of Crete, the code is inscribed on stone columns that were later integrated into the walls of a theater. This legal document consists of twelve columns, with over six hundred lines written in the Cretan Doric dialect using a unique boustrophedon style, where alternate lines are inscribed in opposite directions. The code addresses essential matters such as family law, civil rights, and trade relations, notably excluding harsh punitive measures and capital punishment. This suggests that the Cretans had developed a tradition of just governance, possibly influenced by the legendary rule of King Minos. Additionally, it is likely that the code reflects older legal principles from the Minoan civilization. The historical context of Gortyn, from its founding around 1100 B.C.E. to its later status as a Roman capital and Byzantine center, provides a rich backdrop for understanding its legal and cultural significance. Overall, the Law Code of Gortyn offers valuable insights into ancient legal practices and societal values in Crete.
Law Code of Gortyn
Related civilization: Archaic Greece.
Date: 700-600 b.c.e.
Locale: Island of Crete, Greece
Law Code of Gortyn
Gortyn (GOHR-tihn) is considered the most important Roman town on Crete, located on the fertile Mesara plain. It was founded about 1100 b.c.e. at the end of the Bronze Age. According to some sources, the city owes its name to the hero Gortys, the son of Rhadamanthys, who was the brother of King Minos, and to others, he was the son of Tegeates. In 68 b.c.e., the island was conquered by the Romans, and in 27 b.c.e., the city was made the capital of the province and the seat of the Roman governor. During the Byzantine period, Gortyn continued to be the capitol of Crete until it was heavily damaged by the earthquake of 670 c.e. The invasion of Arabs in 824 c.e. destroyed the city completely.
The Gortyn law code, which dates between 700 and 600 b.c.e., is the oldest preserved law code in Europe. It is inscribed in twelve columns carved on porous stone blocks. These slabs were later incorporated into the exterior walls of the Odeion, a theater. Each column is five feet (one and a half meters) high and, except for the last one, consists of fifty-three to fifty-six lines, in total more than six hundred lines. The text is in Cretan Doric dialect, and the writing technique used is boustrophedon, in which alternate lines are written in opposite directions. The code addresses a variety of important issues of family law, civil rights, and trade relations, with no references to cruel disciplinary measures or capital punishment.
Cretans are assumed to have established a tradition in just government because of the rule of King Minos. Minoan laws were still valid at this later date during Dorian rule. Therefore, it is highly probable that the code incorporates older principles of justice.
Bibliography
Camp, John McK., II. “Gortyn: The First Seven Hundred Years.” In Polis and Politics: Studies in Ancient Greek History, edited by Pernille Flensted-Jensen, Thomas Heine Nielsen, and Lene Rubinstein. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, 2000.
Willetts, R. F. The Law Code of Gortyn. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1967.