An Aramaic Joint Venture Agreement: A New Interpretation of the Bauer-Meissner Papyrus

A new collation and legal study of the oldest Aramaic papyrus contract disclose an instrument of agreement akin to the modern joint venture. On June 3, 515 B. C. E., Padi, son of Daganmelech, possibly a Philistine, contracted with an Egyptian farmer, Aḥa son of Apion, regarding Padi's royal all...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Szubin, H. Z. (Author) ; Porten, Bezalel (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: The University of Chicago Press 1992
In: Bulletin of ASOR
Year: 1992, Volume: 288, Pages: 67-84
Online Access: Volltext (JSTOR)
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Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
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Summary:A new collation and legal study of the oldest Aramaic papyrus contract disclose an instrument of agreement akin to the modern joint venture. On June 3, 515 B. C. E., Padi, son of Daganmelech, possibly a Philistine, contracted with an Egyptian farmer, Aḥa son of Apion, regarding Padi's royal allotment in Krb, probably Korobis in Middle Egypt. The terminology points to a sophisticated legal arrangement that goes beyond the standard tenant-farmer lease agreement. As coventurors in a joint enterprise, the parties share equally (šwywy) both profits and losses (ṭbʾ wlḥyʾ nplg). Each party seeks to limit his exposure to risks and liabilities and to guarantee the contracted performance, e. g., by means of a limited defension clause and forfeitable bond. Stimulated by a new analysis of Talmudic sources, the Aramaic document and Akkadian, demotic, and Greek contracts are reinterpreted and reclassified.
ISSN:2161-8062
Contains:Enthalten in: American Schools of Oriental Research, Bulletin of ASOR
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.2307/1357232