Instruments of Crime in Tomb Robbery Papyri
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Mohamed Helmi Essa
Summary
The famous Tomb Robbery papyri provide a vivid example of how criminal law was practiced in ancient Egypt. Ransacking royal tombs and temples was considered a capital crime, punishable by death. In this context, the victim was represented by the state. Anything used in the commission of the crime was deemed a “criminal tool,” and criminal investigation and forensic evidence at the crime scene aimed to identify such tools. According to the texts of those papyri, “the instrumentalities of crime” used by the tomb robbers included items for opening, smashing, digging, traction, and lighting. Additionally, the robbers used tools to cover up the traces of the crime, such as setting fire to looted tombs and temples.
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Articles in the same Issue
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- Irmtraut Munro
- Instruments of Crime in Tomb Robbery Papyri
- The Unveiled Man
- CT 335 on the Head Side of Inner Coffin A7A From Qubbet el-Hawa (QH31/15/S5/UE21/30)
- The Stela of Ahmose the Scribe and Reckoner of the Cattle (CG 34049/GEM 5888)
- A Liturgical Ostracon From the Burial Shaft of Wahibremeryneith at Abusir
- A Mysterious Papyrus of the Roman Period from Athribis (Papyrus SH 389)
- Serving the Mendesian Ram in Memphis for Generations
- Le cercueil de Padiousir fils de Pahep
- ‘Priests of Maat’ and Ideal Autobiographies in the Old Kingdom – A Suggestion
- Osiris and Thoth in the Valley of Caracas: The Circulation History of Two Egyptian Objects in Late Nineteenth-Century Venezuela
- The Nenib-List Reconsidered: A Synoptic Reading of Edfu and Athribis Scented Material
- Ein seltenes Epitheton des Gottes Chons-in–Theben- im Tempel von Dakke
Articles in the same Issue
- Titelseiten
- Irmtraut Munro
- Instruments of Crime in Tomb Robbery Papyri
- The Unveiled Man
- CT 335 on the Head Side of Inner Coffin A7A From Qubbet el-Hawa (QH31/15/S5/UE21/30)
- The Stela of Ahmose the Scribe and Reckoner of the Cattle (CG 34049/GEM 5888)
- A Liturgical Ostracon From the Burial Shaft of Wahibremeryneith at Abusir
- A Mysterious Papyrus of the Roman Period from Athribis (Papyrus SH 389)
- Serving the Mendesian Ram in Memphis for Generations
- Le cercueil de Padiousir fils de Pahep
- ‘Priests of Maat’ and Ideal Autobiographies in the Old Kingdom – A Suggestion
- Osiris and Thoth in the Valley of Caracas: The Circulation History of Two Egyptian Objects in Late Nineteenth-Century Venezuela
- The Nenib-List Reconsidered: A Synoptic Reading of Edfu and Athribis Scented Material
- Ein seltenes Epitheton des Gottes Chons-in–Theben- im Tempel von Dakke
