The Common Law and the General Court in Crete in the Hellenistic Period

Certain evidence demonstrates that in the League of Cretans in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BCE, there was a Code (diagramma) — the only known example of a set of rules of tort and procedural law that was in force on the territory of the entire federation of Greek poleis. The Code contained rules for calculating monetary compensation for an offense, and also regulated the procedure for conducting a trial regarding a delict committed by a citizen of one Cretan city against a citizen of another, or against a foreigner. To consider such cases, a “general court” (koinodikion) was created in Crete, which apparently consisted of representatives of different poleis. The League of Cretans, thus, sought to ensure that conflicts between citizens of different communities of Crete were settled in a uniform and civilized way and would not undermine the unity and stability of the entire federation.