Identifier: dawnofcivilizati01masp (find matches)
Title: The dawn of civilization: Egypt and Chaldaea
Year: 1897 (1890s)
Authors: Maspero, G. (Gaston), 1846-1916
Subjects: Civilization
Publisher: London : S.P.C.K.
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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where I follow the explanation of the passage suggestedby Signor Lumbroso (11 papiro LXIII del Louvre, p. 18 a, and Beeherches sur lÉconomie politique,p. 93). 2 Diodorus Sicultjs, i. 36. 3 The corvees of the Ptolemaic period were superintended by old men, ol irpe<rficTepoi (LouvrePapyrus 66,1. 21), i.e. by the sheikhs, and by the rûdûû, na:irs, as well as by the âa asitiû or reùesof the works (Maspkro, Études Egyptiennes, vol. ii. pp. 44, 45). The shaivishes (exactors) of ourtime are the rahdophori or rabdisti of the Greek period (Louvre Papyrus 66, 1. 19; Schow, Chartapapyracea, § 4,11. 11, 12), whose duty it was to stimulate the workmen with blows. 4 In the papyrus published by Schow, we notice, side by side witli the slaves, peasants(1. 7,1. 15, 11,1. 18), cowherds, and shepherds (3,1. 16, 5, 11. 1, 2), ass-drivers (2,1. 16), and work-men belonging to various trades—potters (6, 11. 21, 22), mat-makers (11, 1. 8), fullers (7, 1. 26),masons (10,1. 4), barbers (3,1. 26).
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33G THE POLITICAL CONSTITUTION OF EGYPT. from it, and if needful to ship and convey them to their destination.1 Orperhaps the sovereign had caused a gigantic statue of himself to be carved,and a few hundred men were requisitioned to haul it to the place where hewished it to be set up.2 The undertaking ended in a gala, and doubtlessin a distribution of food and drink : the unfortunate creatures who had beengot together to execute the work could not always have felt fitly compensatedfor the precious time they had lost, by one day of drunkenness and rejoicing. We may ask if all these corvées were equally legal ? Even if some of themwere illegal, the peasant on whom they fell could not have found the meansto escape from them, nor could he have demanded legal reparation for theinjury which they caused him. Justice, in Egypt and in the whole Orientalworld, necessarily emanates from political authority, and is only one branchof the administration amongst others, in the hands of the lord and

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