The socio-political processes underway in Ukraine in recent years and intensive development of civil society institutions give the utmost urgency to the issue of functioning of a legal system which would be adequate to modern realities – the system designated to positively impact the nature of social changes, contribute to the humanization of State and law, raise the efficiency of legal regulation, and form a high sense of justice, both public and individual. In this context, the historical experience of lawmaking accumulated by the people over thousands of years also has its role to play in these processes. After all, the thousand-year existence of ancient States within the current Ukrainian territories has left a deep imprint on law of subsequent generations.

This article aims at ascertaining, based on the analysis of historical sources (in particular, narrative ones, monuments of law, etc.), as well as the available scientific literature, the processes of establishment and development of law in Ukraine’s territory during the VII century BC – the first half of the VI century AD.

The author analyses the works by Herodotus, Plutarch, Diogenes Laërtius, Lucian of Samosata, orations by Demosthenes, as well as legislative acts and other epigraphic monuments of antique poleis of the Northern Black Sea Region, in particular, the oath of Chersonesos citizens (end of the IV-beginning of the III century BC), Olbia “Canopus Decree” on monetary circulation (beginning of the IV century BC), the Chersonesos polis’s law on the amnesty of political exiles (first quarter of the III century BC), the act on sale or lease of land plots (the 60s–70s of the III century BC), instructions by the Governor of the Roman province of Lower Moesia Tertullian (end of the II century) addressed to the officials of Chersonesos and the chiefs of the Roman military garrison located in the city, rescripts of the Bosporan King Aspourgos to Gorgippia residents (years 14/15), the Roman Emperor’s rescript on release of citizens of Tyre from duty (year 201), etc. A valuable material regarding the specifics of property law and law of obligation is also contained in private letters written on lead plates which were discovered by archaeologists.

The author notes that the outset of law in the territory of modern Ukraine in the antique times is primarily associated with legal traditions of the Scythians and the autochthonous population residing in the territories which were part of their early-State formations, as well as residents of the Northern Black Sea poleis. Narrative, epigraphic and archaeological sources reliably indicate that the States of the Northern Black Sea region had a sufficiently developed, complex and ramified system of legal regulation of public relations. As early as from the end of the VII–VI centuries BC, certain elements of the basic branches of law were gradually formed there. In Scythia, they were formed resting upon their own traditional principles, while in Chersonesos, Olbia, Panticapaeum and other poleis they were mostly borrowed from the legal system of the Athenian State through the metropolises – Heraclea Pontica and Miletus. Despite certain local peculiarities, basic institutions of law (civil, criminal, procedural) of the North Pontus city-States were basically similar to the legal framework regulating public relations in other Greek poleis of those times.

Bibliography

Authored books

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6. Kifishin A, Drevnee svjatilishhe Kamennaja Mogila: Opyt deshifrovki protoshumerskogo arhiva XII–III tysjacheletij do n. je. [The Ancient Sanctuary of Stone Grave: Experience of Deciphering the Proto-Sumerian Archive of the XII–III Centuries BC], t 1 (Aratta 2001) (in Russian).

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8. Latyshev V, Ocherk grecheskih drevnostej [Essay on Greek Antiquities], ch 2: Bogosluzhebnye i scenicheskie drevnosti [Sacred Worship and Scenic Antiquities] (Tip V Bezobrazova i Komp 1889) (in Russian).

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15. Zhebelev S, Severnoe Prichernomor’e [Northern Black Sea Region] (Izd-vo AN SSSR 1953) (in Russian).

Edited and translated books

16. Latyschev V (ed), Inscriptiones antiquae orae septentrionalis Ponti Euxini grecae et latinae (Petropoli, MCMXVI 1916) (in Latin).

17. Demosfen, ‘Protiv Androtiona o narushenii zakonov’ [‘Against Androtion about Violating the Laws’] v Demosfen, Rechi [Demosthenes, Orations], t 1 (Frolov Je per s drevnegr, Pamjatniki istoricheskoj mysli 1994) (in Russian).

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23. Jajlenko V, ‘Ol’vijskoe pis’mo anonima’ [‘Olbian Anonymous Letter’] v Jajlenko V (otv red), Istorija i kul’tura drevnego mira [History and Culture of the Ancient World] (Nauka 1996) (in Russian).

24. Karasev A i Levi E, ‘Issledovanija Ol’vii posle B. V. Farmakovskogo’ [‘Studies of Olbia after B. V. Farmakovskiy’] v Brashinskij I i drugie (red), Hudozhestvennaja kul’tura i arheologija antichnogo mira [Art Culture and Archaeology of the Ancient World] (Nauka 1976) (in Russian).

25. Lukian, ‘Toksarid, ili druzhba’ [‘Toxarid or Friendship’] v Murzin V i drugie, Skifija:istorija, hozjajstvo, byt, religija, voennoe delo [Scythia: History, Economy, Everyday Life, Religion, Military Matters] (2004) (in Russian).

26. Plutarh, Izbrannye zhizneopisanija [Selected Biographies], t 1 (per s drevnegrecheskogo, Pravda 1987) (in Russian).

27. Saprykin S i Kulikov A, ‘Novye jepigraficheskie nahodki v Pantikapee’ [‘New Epigraphic Findings in Panticapaeum’] v Drevnejshie gosudarstva Vostochnoj Evropy. 1996–1997 gg.: Severnoe Prichernomor’e v antichnosti: Voprosy istochnikovedenija [The Most Ancient States of Eastern Europe. 1996–1997: The Northern Black Sea Region in Antiquity: Questions of Source Studies] (Podosinov A otv red, Vostochnaja literatura 1999) (in Russian).

28. Sudova vlada v Ukraini: istorychni vytoky, zakonomirnosti, osoblyvosti rozvytku [Judicial Power in Ukraine: Historical Origins, Patterns, Development Peculiarities] (Usenko I red, Naukova dumka 2014) (in Ukrainian).

29. Vinogradov Ju i Zolotarev M, ‘Hersones iznachal’nyj’ [‘Chersonesos Primordial’] v Drevnejshie gosudarstva Vostochnoj Evropy. 1996–1997 gg.: Severnoe Prichernomor’e v antichnosti: Voprosy istochnikovedenija [The Most Ancient States of Eastern Europe. 1996–1997: The Northern Black Sea Region in Antiquity: Questions of Source Studies] (Podosinov A otv red, Vostochnaja literatura 1999) (in Russian).

30. Vinogradov Ju, ‘Tablichka dikasta iz jermitazhnogo sobranija’ [‘Dikastes Tablet from the Hermitage Collection’] v Gindin L (otv red), Antichnaja balkanistika [Antique Balkan Studies] (Nauka 1987) (in Russian).

31. Vіdejko M, ‘Pryhody sviashchennoi Aratty’ [‘Adventures of the Sacred Aratta’] v Novitni mify i falshyvky pro pokhodzhennia ukraintsiv [The Latest Myths and Fakes about the Origin of Ukrainians] (Tempora 2008) (in Ukrainian).

32. Zhebelev S (red), Antichnyj sposob proizvodstva v istochnikah [Antique Method of Production in Sources] (GAIMK 1933) (in Russian).

Dictionaries

33. Vejsman A, Grechesko-russkij slovar’ [Greek-Russian Dictionary] (reprint 5-go izdanija 1899 g, Greko-latinskij kabinet Ju A Shichalina 1991) (in Russian).

34. Ljubker F, Real’nyj slovar’ klassicheskih drevnostej [Real Dictionary of Classical Antiquities] (Gel’bke F i drygie red, 1885) (in Russian).

Journal articles

35. Gavrylenko O and Skryl O, ‘Legal Regulation of Civil Contracts in Ancient City-States of the Black Sea Northern Coast’ [2016] 7(1) Journal on European History of law 190-200 (in English).

36. Syroid T and Havrylenko O and Shevchenko A, ‘Evolution of Financial Law Basics within the Antique States of the North Black Sea Region (Late 7th Century BC – the First Half of the 6th Century AD)’ [2019] 10(2) Journal on European History of law 101-14 (in English).

37. ‘Sholii k komedijam Aristofana’ [‘Scholia to the Comedies by Aristophanes’] (1947) 2 Vestnik drevnej istorii 300 (in Russian).

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40. Vinogradov Ju, ‘Sinopa i Ol’vija v V v. do n. je. Problema politicheskogo ustrojstva’ [‘Sinope and Olbia in the V Century BC. The Question of Political Arrangement’] (1981) 2 Vestnik drevnej istorii 65-89 (in Russian).

41. Vysotskaja T, ‘Kul’ty i obrjady pozdnih skifov’ [‘Cults and Rites of the Late Scythians’] (1976) 3 Vestnik drevnej istorii 52 (in Russian).

42. Grakov B, ‘Materialy po istorii Skifii v grecheskih nadpisah Balkanskogo poluostrova i Maloj Azii’ [‘Materials on the History of Scythia in Greek Inscriptions of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor’] (1939) 3 Vestnik drevnej istorii 281 (in Russian).

43. Grivnjak L, ‘Smertna kara v antychnomu suspilstvi ta yii funktsii’ [‘Death Penalty in Antique Society and Its Functions’] (2008) 2 Naukovij vіsnik L’vіvs’kogo derzhavnogo unіversitetu vnutrіshnіh sprav. Serіja juridichna 27-34 (in Russian).

44. Karasev A, ‘Raskopki ol’vijskoj agory v 1967–1969 gg.’ [‘Excavations of Olbian Agora in 1967–1969’] (1972) 130 Kratkie soobshhenija o dokladah i polevyh issledovanijah Instituta arheologii AN SSSR 37 (in Russian).

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46. Kuznecova T, ‘Anaharsis i Skil’ [‘Anacharsis and Scyles’] (1984) 178 Kratkie soobshhenija Instituta arheologii 13 (in Russian).

47. Orel V, ‘Ob odnom institute indoevropejskogo prava. Opyt lingvisticheskogo kommentarija’ [‘About One Institute of Indo-European Law. An Experience of Linguistic Commentary’] (1986) 1 Vestnik drevnej istorii 131 (in Russian).

48. Rostovcev M, ‘Delo o vzimanii prostitucionnoj podati v Hersonese’ [‘The Case of Charging Prostitution Fees in Chersonesos’] (1916) 60 Izvestija imp. Arheologicheskoj komissii 63-9 (in Russian). 49. Semenov-Zuser S, ‘Rodovaja organizacija u skifov Gerodota’ [‘Ancestral Arrangements of the Scythians of Herodotus’] [1931] 9(1) Izvestija Gosudarstvennoj akademii istorii material’noj kul’tury 31 (in Russian).

50. Skrzhinskaja M, ‘Skifskie sjuzhety v predanijah ol’viopolitov’ [‘Scythian Scenes in the Legends of Olbia Residents’] (1982) 4 Vestnik drevnej istorii 93-7 (in Russian).

51. Solomonik Je, ‘Dva antichnyh pis’ma iz Kryma’ [‘Two Antique Letters from the Crimea’] (1987) 3 Vestnik drevnej istorii 120 (in Russian).

52. Solomonik Je, ‘Fragment nadpisi iz Hersonesa o politicheskih izgnannikah’ [‘A Fragment of Chersonesos Inscription about Political Exiles’] (1984) 3 Vestnik drevnej istorii 77 (in Russian).

53. Shelov D, ‘Feodosija, Gerakleja i Spartokidy’ [‘Theodosia, Heraclea, and Spartocides’] (1950) 3 Vestnik drevnej istorii 170 (in Russian).

54. Havrylenko O, ‘Zlochyny ta pokarannia u pravi antychnykh derzhav Pivnichnoho Prychornomor’ia’ [‘Crimes and Penalties in Law of the Antique States of the Northern Black Sea Region’] (2002) 1 Pravo ta bezpeka 46 (in Ukrainian).

55. Havrylenko O, ‘Osnovni rysy prava skifskykh rannoderzhavnykh utvoren’ [‘Main Characteristics of Law of the Scythian Early-State Entities’] (2007) 1 Chasopys Kyivskoho universytetu prava 18 (in Ukrainian).

56. Havrylenko O, ‘Poniattia i normy prava vlasnosti v antychnykh derzhavakh Pivnichnoho Prychornomor’ia (kinets VII st. do n. e. – persha polovyna VI st. n. e.)’ [‘The Concept and Rules of Property Law in the Antique States of the Northern Black Sea Region (End of the VII Century BC – First Half of the VI Century AD)] [2006] 19(58)2 Vcheni zapysky Tavriiskoho natsionalnoho universytetu im. V. I. Vernadskoho. Seriia “Iurydychni nauky” 60 (in Ukrainian).

57. Havrylenko O, ‘Pravovi osnovy valiutnoho rehuliuvannia v Olviiskii derzhavi na pochatku IV st. do n. e.’ [‘Legal Foundations of Currency Regulation in the Olbia State at the Beginning of the IV Century BC’] (2002) 17 Derzhava i pravo. Zb. nauk. prats. Yurydychni i politychni nauky 26-31 (in Ukrainian). 58. Nelin O, ‘Do pytannia pro spadkove pravo rabovlasnytskoho suspilstva’ [‘On the Issue of Inheritance Law of Slave-Owning Society’] (2004) 10 Pidpryiemnytstvo, hospodarstvo i pravo 44 (in Ukrainian).

59. Nikolaienko T, ‘Zarodzhennia prava na ukrainskykh zemliakh periodu stanovlennia suspilstva’ [‘The Onset of Law in the Ukrainian Lands At the Time of Establishment of Society’] (2014) 6 Biuleten Ministerstva yustytsii Ukrainy 150-4 (in Ukrainian).

60. Nikolaienko T, ‘Zvychaieve pravo skifskoi derzhavy’ [‘Customary Law of the Scythian State’] (2014) 8 Biuleten Ministerstva yustytsii Ukrainy 51-6 (in Ukrainian).

61. Skrzhynska M, ‘Sudochynstvo v antychnykh derzhavakh Pivnichnoho Prychornomor’ia’[‘Judicial Procedure in the Antique States of the Northern Black Sea Region’] (2009) 5 Ukrainskyi istorychnyi zhurnal 4-11 (in Ukrainian).

Conference papers

 62. D’jachkov S, ‘Social’no-klassovaja struktura Bosporskogo carstva І–ІІІ vv. n. je.’ [‘Social and Class Structure of the Bosporan Kingdom in the I–III Centuries AD’] v Problemy issledovanij antichnyh gorodov. Tezisy dokladov III nauchnyh chtenij, posvjashhennyh pamjati V. D. Blavatskogo [Issues of Antique Cities Research. Theses of Reports Made at the III Scientific Readings Dedicated to the Memory of V. D. Blavatsky] (In-t arheologii AN SSSR 1989) (in Russian).

63. Levi E, ‘Raskopki ol’vijskoj agory i temenosa’ [‘Excavations of Olbian Agora and Temenos’] v Blavatskaja T (red), Antichnoe obshhestvo. Trudy konferencii po izucheniju problem antichnosti [Antique Society. Proceedings of the Conference on the Study of Antiquity Issues] (Nauka 1967) 163 (in Russian).

64. Yarmysh O ta Havrylenko O, ‘Odne z “vichnykh” pytan istoryko-pravovoi realnosti: orhanizatsiino-pravovi zasady protydii koruptsii (z vitchyznianoho dosvidu)’ [‘One of the “Eternal” Issues of Historical and Legal Reality: Organizational and Legal Framework for Combating Corruption (Based on National Experience)’] v Istorykopravova realnist u hlobalnomu i rehionalnomu vymirakh: materialy XXVII Mizhnarodnoi istoryko-pravovoi konferentsii (20–23 veresnia 2012 r. m. Yevpatoriia) [Historical and Legal Reality in Global and Regional Dimensions: Materials of the XXVII International Historical and Legal Conference (September 20–23, 2012, Evpatoria)], ch 1 (SMD 2012) 32 (in Ukrainian).