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(Book of a Thousand Judgements), Pahlavi Law-Book from the late Sasanian period (first half of the seventh century). MĀDAYĀN Ī HAZĀR DĀDESTĀN (Book of a Thousand Judgements), Pahlavi Law-Book from the late Sasanian period (first half of the seventh century). This text has been transmitted in a single manuscript and is unique in several respects: it is the only exclusively legal work on pre-Islamic Iranian jurisprudence which has survived from the Zoroastrian period, and it is one of the most important fundamental sources for the socia…

i. Sasanian period. ii. Islamic period. i. SASANIAN PERIOD Our main source on jurisprudence during the Sasanian period is the Lawbook Hazār dādestān “One Thousand Judgements” of the 7th century, known since the facsimile edition of a large part of the manuscript (Modi, 1901) as the Mādayān ī hazār dādestān (MHD). This text does not supply a systematic overview on the law of inheritance, nor does it convey a complete picture of all the regulations in this legal field. In accordance with the general tenor of this compilation, the Lawbook deals ma…

(MPers. ruwānagān lit. “relating to the soul”), pious endowꏂments to benefit the souls of the dead, as specified by the individual founders. i. In the Sasanian period. ii. Among Zoroastrians in Islamic times. A version of this article is available in print Volume V, Fascicle 4, pp. 380-385 i. In the Sasanian Period One of the most striking features of Zoroastrianism is a strong sense of responsibility and concern for the well-being of the souls of the dead. In Sasanian Persia pious foundations could be established by individuals specifically to fi…

i. Achaemenid systems. ii. Parthian and Sasanian judicial system. iii. Sasanian legal system. iv. Judicial system, advent of Islam through the 19th century. v. Judicial system, 20th century. vi. Legal system, Islamic period. A version of this article is available in print Volume XV, Fascicle 2, pp. 174-215 JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SYSTEMS i. ACHAEMENID JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SYSTEMS This article will address principally the sources of our knowledge of the judicial and legal system in the Achaemenid period, as well as the nature of the court system, which persons…

Slaves and slavery. i. In the Achaemenid period. ii. In the Sasanian period. iii. In the Islamic period up to the Mongol invasion. iv. From the Mongols to the abolition of slavery. v. Military slavery in Islamic Iran. A version of this article is available in print Volume III, Fascicle 7, pp. 762 BARDA and BARDADĀRĪ, "slaves and slavery." BARDA and BARDA-DĀRI i. Achaemenid Period At the beginning of the Achaemenid period, the institution of slavery was still poorly developed in Iran. In Media a custom existed whereby a poor man could place himself at the disp…

[German version] I. Mesopotamia Mesopotamia did not develop a generic term for demons. A large number of immortal beings was known that each had their own name and acted as servants of the gods and as enemies or helpers of humans. They did not have cults of their own. Since demons were only able to exercise their limited powers, which manifested themselves in physical and psychological illnesses, with the approval of the gods, they were part of the existing world order. Thus, in the Babylonian tale …

[English version] I. Mesopotamien Ein übergeordneter Begriff für D. wurde in Mesopotamien nicht entwickelt. Bekannt ist eine Vielzahl unsterblicher Wesen, die jeweils einen eigenen Namen tragen und als Diener der Götter und Feinde oder Helfer der Menschen auftraten. Gegenstand eines eigenen Kultes waren sie nicht. Da D. ihre beschränkte Macht, die sich etwa in Krankheiten physischer und psychischer Art manifestierte, nur mit Billigung der Götter ausüben konnten, waren sie Teil der Weltordnung. So wu…

I. Alter Orient, Ägypten und Iran [English version] A. Einführung Die Kenntnis über den Status von F. beruht weitgehend auf Texten juristischer Natur (Rechtsurkunden, Rechtsbücher, königliche Erlasse). Dementsprechend betont die bisherige Forschung v.a. die rechtlichen Aspekte der Stellung von F. in Familie und Gesellschaft. Nichtjuristiche Texte unterschiedlicher Genres enthalten Nachrichten über das Wirken von F. aus den Familien der Eliten, insbes. denen der königlichen Clans. So nimmt die hethit. Köni…

[German version] I. Ancient Orient The family in Mesopotamia was organized in a patrilineal manner; remnants of matrilineal family structures are to be found in Hittite myths, among the Amorite nomads of the early 2nd millennium BC and the Arab tribes of the 7th cent. BC. As a rule monogamy was predominant; marriage to concubines with lesser rights was possible, while there is evidence of polygamy particularly in the ruling families. The family consisted of a married couple and their children althoug…

[English version] I. Alter Orient Die F. in Mesopot. war patrilinear organisiert; Reste von matrilinearen F.-Strukturen finden sich in hethit. Mythen, bei den amoritischen Nomaden des frühen 2. Jt. v.Chr. sowie den arab. Stämmen des 7. Jh. v.Chr. In der Regel herrschte Monogamie; Heirat mit Nebenfrauen minderen Rechts war möglich, Polygamie ist v.a. in den Herrscher-F. bezeugt. Die F. bestand aus dem Elternpaar und seinen Kindern, über deren Zahl keine verläßlichen Angaben möglich sind. Unverheiratete Brüder des F.-Oberhauptes konnten Teil der F. sein. Die Funktion der F. al…

I. Ancient Orient, Egypt and Iran [German version] A. Introduction Knowledge of the status of women is largely based on texts of a legal nature (legal documents, law books, royal decrees). Accordingly, research to date emphasizes primarily the legal aspects of the position of women in family and society. Non-legal texts from a variety of genres contain information on the activities of women from the families of the elite, particularly those of the royal clan. Thus, the Hittite royal wife Puduḫepa (13th ce…