<Articles>An Interpretation of the so-called Demotionid Inscription

DOI HANDLE Web Site Open Access

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • <論説>古典期アテネのフラトリア : IG II^<2> 1237 の場合
  • 古典期アテネのフラトリア--IG 22 1237の場合
  • コテンキ アテネ ノ フラトリア IG 2 2 1237 ノ バアイ

Search this article

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to clarify the structure of Athenian phratries by analyzing a famous inscription discovered at Tatoi (the site of an Attic deme Dekeleia), IG II^2 1237, where a phratry inscribed three decrees on rules governing the entry of children. The first half of the paper is concerned with the name of the abovementioned phratry, which many scholars have discussed since the end of the nineteenth century. Analyzing IG II^2 1237, especially lines 29-34 of the inscription, and surveying some citizenship decrees of Keos (IG XII5, 540 ; ibid. 1061) , the author concludes that Dekeleieis is the name of the phratry which inscribed the decrees and that Demotionidai, another name found in the inscription, represents a group of privileged members. In the latter half of the paper, the author gives an outline of the structure of Athenian phratries. His arguments are based on the inscription of Dekeleieis (IG II^2 1237), Drakon's homicide law (IG I^3 104) , some passages in Attic orations (Isae. II 14 ; Isae. VII 13-17 ; Demosth. LIX 55-63 ; Andoc. I 126-127) and a fragment of Philochoros (FGrH 328 F35a). He emphasizes two points. First, from the archaic to the classical period, Athenian phratries were composed of two kinds of members, gennetai (aristocratic phrateres) and orgeones (commoner phrateres). At the same time, however, the phratry's basic unit was the thiasos, which included gennetai as well as orgeones. The coexistence of these organizational principles was characteristic of Attic phratries. Second, at least upon examining requirements for membership, the gennetai's position of superiority began to disappear in about the beginning of the fourth century B. C. Gennetai, the aristocratic component of a phratry, seem to have played an important role in the membership of a phratry and in maintaining the sound condition of the Athenian state up to that time.

Journal

  • 史林

    史林 71 (5), 677-713, 1988-09-01

    THE SHIGAKU KENKYUKAI (The Society of Historical Research), Kyoto University

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top