On the right of way in Ancient Egypt: (entry to and exit from an estate: ∈'iσoδos kai “∈ξoδos)

Abstract

Greek papyri recording transactions involving immovable property (buildings or land) often include a clause through which one of the two contracting parties is guaranteed inter alia the right to use a path over or adjacent to the property of his partner. The same phenomenon occurs in Demotic documents. An examination of the antecedents for this documentation reveals that the right of way was an important issue in the Pharaonic period, with disputes being decided in the law-courts.