Female Slaves According to Ancient Mesopotamian Laws

Abstract

The subject of slavery in ancient Mesopotamia is widely covered in legal texts. Based on the aforementioned texts, subjects such as the place of female slaves in society, the treatment they receive by their owners, the situations in which they can be bought and sold like a commodity, stealing (accepting stolen goods), opposing their owners or covering their heads have been interpreted through legal articles. In this context, first of all, Sumerian legal texts were examined. In the articles on the subject of female slaves, the subjects related to being concubines or covering their heads are explained in general. In general, people who existed as slaves in Ancient Mesopotamian societies; It is seen that they are considered as people who were born as slaves and later became slaves. It is understood that people born as slaves lived as slaves until the end of their lives. Those who become slaves later on are those who enter the slave class because of their debt. This was temporary slavery and they were able to obtain their freedom later on. Based on all these, it is understood that female slaves in Ancient Mesopotamian societies had a very difficult life under the orders of their owners and in line with certain rules. © 2023, Osman Kose. All rights reserved.