Law Code

View of a detailed portion of the “law code” of Gortyn,

The text was originally written about 480 B.C. in a boustrophedon style.  “Boustrophedon” means “as the ox plows” and refers to style of writing that alternated from “left to right” and then “right to left” = “as the ox plows”  [note the alternating direction of successive lines!].

The “law code” is written in an ancient Doric dialect.  The text deals with individual liberty, property, inheritance, adultery, violence, trade practices, etc.

Here 108 lines of the original 624 line inscription are preserved.

For a detailed look at the Law Code Click Here .

For a view of the Odeon Click Here .

For a brief description of Gortyna Click Here .