Kinship in Ancient Athens: Two-Volume Set: An Anthropological Analysis (Paperback)

The concept of kinship is at the heart of understanding not only the structure and development of a society but also the day-to-day interactions of its citizens. Kinship in Ancient Athens aims to illuminate both of these issues by providing a comprehensive account of the structures and perceptions of kinship in Athenian society covering the archaic and classical periods from Drakon and Solon up to Menander. Drawing on decades of research into a wide range of epigraphic literary and archaeological sources and on S. C. Humphreys expertise in the intersections between ancient history and anthropology it not only puts a wealth of data at readers fingertips but subjects it to rigorous analysis. By utilizing an anthropological approach to reconstruct patterns of behaviour it is able to offer us an ethnographic thick description of ancient Athenians interaction with their kin that offers insights into a range of social contexts from family life rituals and economic interactions to legal matters politics warfare and more. The work is arranged into two volumes both utilizing the same anthropological approach to ancient sources. Volume I explores interactions and conflicts shaped by legal and economic constraints (adoption guardianship marriage inheritance property) as well as more optional relationships in the field of ritual (naming rites de passage funerals and commemoration dedications cultic associations) and political relationships both formal (Assembly Council) and informal (hetaireiai). Among several important and novel topics discussed are the sociological analysis of names and nicknames the features of kin structure that advantaged or disadvantaged women in legal disputes and the economic relations of dependence and independence between fathers and sons. Volume II deals with corporate groups recruited by patrifiliation and explores the role of kinship in these subdivisions of the citizen body: tribes and trittyes (both pre-Kleisthenic and Kleisthenic) phratries gene and demes. The section on the demes stresses variety rather than common features and provides comprehensive information on location and prosopography in a tribally organized catalogue.