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.
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