Subjects:

Legal History

This sourcebook presents a collection of ancient Greek laws and covers a wide area of legislative activity in major and minor Greek city-states, ranging from Delphoi and Athens in mainland Greece, to Gortyn in Crete, Olbia in South Russia and Aegean cities including Ephesos, Samos and Thasos. The book divides legislation into three main areas: the household - marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption, sexual offences and personal status; the market-place - trade, finance, sale, coinage and leases; and the state - constitution, legislative process, public duties, colonies, building activities, naval forces, penal regulations, religion, politics and inter-state affairs. The author explores the significance of legislation in ancient Greece, the differences and similarities between ancient Greek legislation and legislators and their modern counterparts and also provides translations of the legal documents themselves.