Search

Abstract Our understanding of specific Greek legal terminology is largely restricted to that of Classical Athens and this article defines and describes the most common Athenian legal terms.  These terms mainly consist of official designations of persons and documents relating to court processes.  This article considers both the attested use of these terms, especially by the ‘Canon of the Ten’, as well as their apparent etymological and semantic origins.  With this understanding, one can piece together the procedure and philosophy of at least some Athenian legal cases. Unlike Rome,…

Abstract This article summarizes patronymic forms appearing in the various Greek periods and dialects, their lexical/morphological origins and the frequency and parameters of their use.  Examples of ancient patronymics from Mycenaean are provided. Ancient Greek nomenclature owes much to Indo-European naming practices, which is clear from the Mycenaean evidence (dating from the 13th century BCE) as well as the Homeric poems (dated to the 8th century BCE and composed to evoke Bronze Age society). Greek men and women were given only one name, following the Indo-European custom. Although there are many instances of Greeks, particularly those living in Asia Minor and Egypt, who were given two names, th…