Law and Social Status in Classical Athens
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Author Description
The subject of this collection is the articulation of law and social status in classical Athens. Its chapters, written by leading scholars from Canada, Britain, and the United States, cover a wide range of topics, among them the Athenian rationale for torture, different methods of execution, the contract and the legal context of prostitution, and metics in court. This book is unique in concentrating on the way in which the law of Athens constructed and sustained social status by enshrining privileges for the citizens and disabilities for metics and slaves. As a whole, the collection reinforces the reality of three juridically defined status groups whose social and economic roles and whose personal lives were deeply affected by their place in the prevailing hierarchy.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This collection investigates how the legal framework of classical Athens functioned as a mechanism to construct and maintain rigid social hierarchies. The editors, Jonathan Edmondson and Virginia Hunter, curate a series of essays from international scholars to analyze the intersection of jurisprudence and social stratification. By examining specific legal practices, the contributors argue that Athenian law actively reinforced the distinctions between citizens, metics, and slaves through codified privileges and systemic disabilities.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the Athenian rationale for judicial torture and methods of execution.
- Examination of the legal context surrounding prostitution and contractual obligations.
- Investigation into the status and legal standing of metics within the Athenian court system.
- A comprehensive study of how juridical definitions dictated the personal, social, and economic lives of different status groups.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students of ancient history frequently cite this collection as a foundational text for understanding the practical application of Athenian law. Experts highlight the rigorous academic approach and the clarity with which the contributors connect abstract legal theory to the lived realities of the Athenian population.
Page Count:
224
Publication Date:
2001-01-11
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199240116
ISBN-13:
9780199240111
History
Greece
Law
Sociology
Ancient Greece
Social status
Status Law
Community Tags
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