code of Gortyn

ancient Greece

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June 29, 2026

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The Code of Gortyn is the most extensive surviving monument of ancient Greek law before the Hellenistic Age. Discovered in Gortyn, an ancient city on the island of Crete, this inscription dates to the first half of the 5th century BCE. It is inscribed on stone slabs and contains over 600 lines of text, making it the longest Greek epigraphic monument.1

The code addresses various legal matters, including property rights, family law, and inheritance. While it provides a detailed look into civil law concerning inheritance and adoption, it is not a complete legal system. The Code of Gortyn is unique in the Greek world, showing tendencies more akin to legal traditions in Anatolia and the Middle East.1

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Greek law
The law code of Gortyn, which is itself the revised version of an older code, is the only one that comes close to being fully preserved.
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The law code of Gortyn, which is itself the revised version of an older code, is the only one that comes close to being fully preserved.
Read More

Gortyn
…civic inscription, or “code,” of Gortyn was discovered. The code is the most extensive monument of Greek law before the Hellenistic Age. Later excavations disclosed most of the plan and public buildings of the Roman city, which was the administrative capital of the Roman province of Crete and Cyrenaica.
Read More
…civic inscription, or “code,” of Gortyn was discovered. The code is the most extensive monument of Greek law before the Hellenistic Age. Later excavations disclosed most of the plan and public buildings of the Roman city, which was the administrative capital of the Roman province of Crete and Cyrenaica.
Read More