The Oldest Written Will: A Milestone in Legal History
Discovered in 1888, Sekhenren's will from ancient Egypt (c. 2550 BCE) is believed to be the world's oldest written will. This papyrus remarkably granted a woman legal rights to inherit and distribute property, highlighting early probate law and demonstrating sophisticated, gender-inclusive inheritance planning in ancient Egypt.
In 1888, archaeologist Sir Flinders Petrie uncovered what is believed to be the world’s oldest known written will, dating back to around 2550 BCE in ancient Egypt. Found on a papyrus, this will belong to a man named Sekhenren, who documented the transfer of his property to his wife and children. Remarkably, it granted a woman legal rights to inherit and distribute property—an unusual practice in an era when women had limited legal standing. The discovery highlighted the early development of probate law and demonstrated that inheritance planning existed much earlier than previously thought.
Legal scholars found this document significant as it predated other known legal codes, such as the Twelve Tables of Rome and Hammurabi’s Code. Unlike later legal traditions, which often restricted women’s rights, this will provide a rare example of gender-inclusive property rights in ancient times. Its existence suggests that the concept of legally documented inheritance was well established in ancient Egypt, influencing the evolution of legal systems for centuries to come.
