On The Structure of Greek Tribal Society: An Essay

ord can ye

cess of the early development of Greek society cannot be ascertained merely from the study of a few survivals in historic times. The comparative me

ce, worthy of further investigation, in so far as they indicate that Greek society was no is

red to be found in the descent of city l

the kindred at Athens in the fourth and fifth centuries B.C. Comparison [pg 138] with the customs of other nations,-the Hindoos, the Welsh, and the Israelites, the last two being the

bond of tribal blood

he possession of the privileges of tribal blood and the t

reefol

has a threefold aspect. The bond is one

bond o

uestion of parentage; and the citizen equally inherited, with his blood, respon

bond of

uardians of their community; in like manner as the member of the smaller group of a kindred, by virtue of his blood, shared in the worship of the Apollo Patro?os, the Zeus Herkeios or Ktesios, and the heroes or ancestors of his family. Inasmuch as citizenship depended upon purity of descent, the possession of the latter qualific

ond of ma

s, like the smiths in Arabia. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that the membership of the tribe or city should have carried with it the right to the possession of some portion of the arable land and of the pasture, upon which all were regarded as being dependent. In this way the possession of land was intimately related to the status and the duties of the owner. It was the visible mark of his full tribal privilege,

g

survived in the kind

hip, the most conservative organisation wherein had been stereoty

ions incumbent on all members of a household united by kindred blood. The actions of the individual members were constrained by their weighty responsibilities to

, where Christianity had replaced, in the records at any rate, whatever religious beliefs may have existed earlier. But the grouping of the kindred according to grades of relationship was adhered to by the Welsh as

mostly found in po

ks of their tribal ancestors, how is it that the most convincing evidence comes from as late as the

as Mycenean, which may be said to have culminated just before the Dorian invasion. Whence then came the public recognition of those household ceremonies of ancestor-worshi

to the pre-Achaian i

inhabitants of Greece, who had formed the substratum of society under Achaian rule, and who only came into prominence on the removal of their superiors at th

descent, and may well have inherited their

probably of wi

have a wider parentage than can be attributed to the Pelasgians

th the histor

their greatest period about the same time. The reign of Solomon with its gold and costly workmanship must have resembled that of the Mycenean kings in more than similarity of date, and outward splendour. Taking Homer again as

earlier tribal habits by the Je

ontracted in the careless days of their prosperity. Their aim was to restore once more those strict tribal habits which had served them so well at the time of their own victorious invasion, and which still

ly only dormant throughout

credness of the bond of hospitality lasting as it did for generations; and in the blood-feud with its deadly consequences, especially when occurring within the tribe or kindred. Indeed if only the Pentateuch of the Achaians could be found in the ruins of Mycenae and added to the Homeric Boo

lly even to all

elonging merely to that period. In the light of the close analogies to be found in the structure of other tribal systems, it is probable that such subdivisions of the kindred belong to

g

de

, object

fortunate

ony o

ra,

στε?

eanin

imits

iable for blood

bal ori

-worship

mer,

rael,

gypt

eric, 1

see ?γ

ne of a cla

ike a god,

ενο?, 102

the seasons

ot altogether h

nce on their pe

mon,

ld βασι

place in f

ift for his ma

basis of f

, &c., 4

alously guard

ion of,

thin the tribe or

he galanas,

ole family

responsibil

?γχιστε?α,

he kindr

, admission

for, by thre

s of

son of stra

, to new citizen,

cession found

rry next-of

tyn la

re than

for her

as, 3

aintenance fro

), bound to the l

te in Santa

f fami

, see S

nd, in

ance at sacri

ry guest

] Heart

f the fami

taneum

on of he

ies of, 1

male heir, 21-

r's son

n of deceased, 34

d to hea

ed to ki

the dem

introduction

in Wal

cession, 5

eritan

ng heirs, 64

ance' of Naboth

his κλ?ρ

s of a f

, 3, 4

"prince

, see κλ?ρο

rades of,

ndia

, 49, 67

h degree,

nth, 78

th, 68

kin to husband but

duties of

arries "heire

eem property in

ept heir, 3

disinheri

bloodshed,

s idea

?ται

ts form,

?κο?, 88 et seq

divided, 47,

g between fathe

case of

lienable, 94,

to new ci

omer

tribes

esio

οι, 131

f of civic rights, 83, 9

"lor

of k

for ev

not in G

ndia

el, 30

of parents (

?κο?

d of, 1

ef, 114 et

ekiel

en at Spa

food to

from κλ?

ies to, in

of heire

relati

w (see

us, 1

art of γ

inuity of, 9, 19-2

nership of pro

of, 54-

holder in

its land, 1

selos,

f head

system, in

islan

er, 88

sticity

mandy, an undi

nts, maintena

deat

ols legitimat

nsible for b

not the rule

ndia, 97

n rights or dignity,

?θε?ο?,

m, 3, 4,

, of phr

dem

dow and ?π?

object of, 6

dead, 8

ake in India

ites at A

older in

on religion,

bhorrence o

, 99 (se

o tribe, 67

in Homer,

ces and gods, 10

πατρ?ιο

support pr

, in Gr

ndia

sis one of bl

evelopment

et seq., 96 (an

ot inherit fro

her kin or g

d to remain

e of Ta

h, 31

E

tno

ix

ii.

xi.

ii.

xiv. 145 (1885), Mr.

Zeus of the Agora, Zeus Tallaios, Apellon Delphinios, Athanaia Poliouchos, Apellon Poitios, and Lato, and Artemis,

Hestia, Zeus and Athena sha

. ii

f Philol.

it. p

0

made in the case of the stranger a

1

the belief in the existence of the gods was a reasonable

2

fice was held to be a feast at which the choice portions were devo

3

e mouth of Hades that the dead

4

7. Cf. Il.

ουσι κασ?γνητ

τε: τ? γ?ρ γ?ρα

5

conviction comes upon him:-"Ay me, there remaineth then even in the house of Hades a spirit and phantom of the dead, albeit the life be not anywise therein: for all night long hath

6

aine's Early Law

7

σ?α τ?ν ?μερ?ν ?

8

Anti

9

Cité Anti

0

Anti

1

933. Soph.

2

Greek poets. Cf. Lucian, De Luctu, 9. Τρ?φονται δ? ?ρα τα?? παρ? ?μ?ν χοα?? κα? το?? καθαγιζομ?νοι? ?π? τ?ν τ?φων:

3

H. S. Davis (

4

hap.

5

hap.

6

hap.

7

, p. 93, ?στ

8

Days, 3

9

35

0

ns. Jowett, cf.

1

us to maintain (τρ?φειν) our parents even if they have not

477 and

?δ? τ

?λοι? ?π

orks and

κεν

κε?σιν ?π? θρ

ροδ

2

Laws,

3

c. Tima

4

v. 19 (Ni

5

Burnell, edited by E. W. Hopkins. Lond

6

Trans. Jowe

7

and Il. xxiii. 163,

8

Macart

9

ii. 36

0

4, ? κτ?σι? μ?ρο

1

Numa 4. Xen. Rep

2

, born into a family where there were already children of

3

lso in Arabia (Rob. Smi

4

d. v

5

oted by Hearn, Arya

6

d xv

7

vii.

8

ii

9

59 and 60

0

lying "going with the property" this

1

συνουκε?ν in Dem

2

ηρο? inherits (κρατε?ν τ?ν χρημ?των) ?π

3

Cf. Ar. Vesp

4

. 131 a

5

.

6

.

7

s,

8

ce, Phorm

ae, qui sunt g

llos ducere cade

ε?? πλο?σιο? ?ν ?ναγκ?σθη γ?μαι γυν

9

s, ii

0

nces i

1

us,

2

et seq. where Alkinoos marries his niece, Arete, the on

3

rt. 106

4

o, Laws 925. A heiress must marry a citizen. In the Gortyn laws, if any one

5

in in her deceased husband's house on plea of pr

her husband's house and is port

6

ding to (her) own will by a young girl, a young woman,

father; in her youth, of her husband; her husband being d

7

her takes away daughter

em. c. Eub

st cousin, a man also becomes guardian (?π?τροπο? κα? κ?ρ

8

o Phorm

9

aeus, ii

0

70

1

11 an

2

xxxvi

3

i.

4

of ?γχιστε?? s

5

.

6

s, vi

7

cart.

8

νο? ?γγυτ?τω ε?σποιε?ν υ??ν τ? τετελε

9

x.

0

4 ? κτ?σι? μ?ρο?

1

ii

2

1, 16,

3

Eubuli

4

vi

5

de My

6

cart. 1054

7

091. Isaeus iii.

8

?σαντι α?τ? κα? το?? ?κε?νου

9

; x. 2 and 4. Dem. c. Leoch

0

094, 1099, and (

1

10

2

Law (1892), p

3

anu ix. 142. He offers no ca

4

es

5

sacrifice by offering the hair o

6

42 ?πιθεν

7

cut their hair in a rin

8

xiii.

9

i. 3

0

r.

0

soph.

0

ii.

0

last year that a Brahman

0

s, vi

0

nd cccxviii. Oath of mother required before l

0

ot. Ath.

0

s, ii

0

Cf. Deuteron

0

Kinship, &c. in

1

erg. and M

1

1069. Cf. D

1

d. ii

1

ix

στο?, ?ν?στι??

αται ?πιδημ?ο

1

695. Cf.

1

xvi.

1

ii.

1

iii. 259,

1

em. c. Aris

1

s 8

2

ould not be buried on Theban soil,

2

nes in Cte

2

. Dem. c. Pan

2

Laws

2

aws 871

2

sse est. Nec implacabiles durant: luitur enim etiam homicidium certo armentorum ac pecorum numero, recipitqu

2

87

2

d. i

2

a p. 90

2

och.

3

Macart

3

s, vi

3

an Code,

3

Guest's Mabin

3

iii-

3

Code, i

3

, ix

3

, ii

3

u v

3

Code, i

4

Makart

4

a, tree

4

Makart

4

Makart

4

078 e

4

ii. 22, a

4

s, xi

4

kart.

4

he relationship of a man to the adopted son of his great

4

kart.

5

t. and c. Leo

5

o kin to her husband

5

, 929 c. Tr

5

Makart

5

10

5

n Dem. c. M

5

a, p

5

1068, sup

5

i. Exception is made for the

5

and Vened. Code, ii

6

Laws,

6

aws, xi

6

e Shunammite's cry unto the King for restoration of her hous

6

46. Troy to be subdued by children of

6

n Neae

6

itizenship had to be confirmed on son

6

Pol.

6

ε? ?θηνα?ο? ε?σιν ?κ

6

?μφοτ?ρων πολιτ?ν κα? μ? θατ?ρου μ?νον, ο?ον πατρ?? ? μητρ??, ο? δ?

6

3 quoted by Hearn, Ar

?ν γ?ρ ο?δ?

ρ?δουλο?, ?κφ

1327. πονηρ??

7

berger 371, 4 ff.:-(?) πρι?με(νο? τ)?ν ?ερητε?αν τ?? ?ρτ?μιδο? τ?? Περ(γα)?α? π(αρ)?ξετα(ι ?)?

7

iah v

7

, x.

7

Laws, ix

7

.

7

2

7

8

7

Makart

adopted by Kohler:-προειπε?ν τ? κτε?ναντι ?ν ?γορ? ?ντ?? ?νεψι?τητο? κα? ?νεψιο? συνδ?ωκειν

s information, and also for the fact of th

7

πεξι?ναι μ?χρι ?νεψιαδ?ν; κα? ?ν τ? ?ρκ? διορ?ζεται ?τι προσ?κων ?

7

, 87

8

. House extinguis

8

n Code,

8

amānodaka: both owe rites at death of kins

8

an Code,

8

1891, p. 10. Inscription found at Iulis in K

8

kart.

8

, ix. 201, where list of those incapable

8

ων κα? ?πικλ?ρω

8

acra cum pecunia pontificum aucto

8

-14. Coulanges, Probl

9

ι δ? το?τοι? μετ?ν τ?? πολιτε?α? ο?? ε?η

9

perty devised to him until his place as heir in the s

9

e and officiating at the tomb would be acceptable to the

9

ριουσ?αν χρημ?των ο?κ ?χοντε? ο?δ? γ?ν φυτε?οντε?, ?δηλον ?ν

9

herds of kine, 50 flocks of sheep, 50 droves of swine, 50 flo

9

xx.

9

02. Cf. Od

9

Reports

9

b

9

1

0

eports, pp

0

. p.

0

. p.

0

. p.

0

stem," Journal of He

0

xi. 49 (

0

τ? πρ?? Καλυδ?να. ? ?φ? ?στ?α? μυο?μενο?

0

. 15 and 27

0

fter the division, whilst his brother has a house of his own: a

0

v. 18

1

xiii

1

he eldest brother in Homer Il. vi. 518, and elsewhere. Poll

1

xiii

1

iv.

ε?μι, γ?νο? δ? μο

την τ?κετο Κρ?ν

ε? τε κα? ο?νε

π?σι μετ? ?θαν

1

97, cf.

1

Ε??

των ?ν δ?μασ

?ν χαμα? ?ρχομ

?λαχε, πρεσ

ρα? κα? τ?μιον;

ο?σιν, ?ν? ο?

ο? σπ?νδει με

1

π? το? πρεσβυτ?του. Cf. use of πρεσβε?εσθα

1

, iv. 24,

1

undivided fractions of houses and property was of exceedingly common occurrence. Sales are recorded of a

1

Laws, i

2

varice, commit an injury against his younger (brothers), he should be

erform wrong acts deserve (

2

, 87

2

25; Jerem.

2

versio

der to

son to t

of Gavelkind, 18

2

Bastard prince named after his mother's

2

vi

2

r. Ion

θεο? δ?

ποτ? ο?τε παγ

νομα π

2

ε?εργ?τ? γενομεν? τ?? π?λεω? δο?ναι πολιτε?αν, κλ?ρον ?ν τ? πεδ??, ο

?) ?ν τ? πεδ??, ο?κ?ην, κ?πον κυ?μων ?μφ

?κγ?νοι?, κα? ?γκτησιν γ?? κα? ο?κ?

So many plethra each ?χειν

τησι? must lie in its being the evidence of

2

2, no

2

ix. 10

3

er brother is eq

3

.

3

. 1

3

10 an

3

.

3

77 et

3

.

3

7, 70,

3

. 1

3

tra,

4

tra,

4

ν?? θ? ?κ?τη? τε τ?τυκται ?ν?ρι, ?

4

ii. 3

4

nly lord of the paternal wealth: but to do the others no

4

, ix

4

.

4

.

4

.

4

.

4

.

5

son, and slave are said to be without property: whatev

5

.

5

xx.

5

xiv.

5

vi.

5

574; cf.

5

xiv.

5

ging to a

5

r drive their swaths through the ploughland of a rich m

ssor Ridgeway: op. cit. p. 19 J

5

viii.

6

xxi.

6

ay, op

6

?ρια μηδε?? ... νομ?σα? τ? τ?κ?νητα κινε?ν το?το ε?ναι ... καταφρον?σα?

6

xi.

6

1; v. Ridge

6

, ix.

6

xiii. 832. v. Ridge

6

s power over the crops, etc., to bring plenty. See

6

vi.

6

τ?μενο? νεμ?μεσθα

7

f land in the territory of many neighbouring towns we

7

xi.

7

θι τοι τ?μενο?

7

ρ?? κα? ?π

7

een handed down to him in succession from Thyestes, Atreus, Pe

7

ii. 22. δ?ο δ? α??

ο? δ? ν? ο? γενε?

elemachos ν?μεται

336. πατρ?ια

7

yth. iv.

7

xiv.

7

ii. 421.

7

xiv.

8

xiv.

8

an is to be slave and not a wife is evidently a later additi

8

i. 2,

8

ich stands for ?μ?κηποι, having the α long and not short as stated in Liddell and Scott's

8

, Nem.

8

? τε κα? κτ?σ?? ?στιν. Pol. i. 4,

8

iv.

8

ν?ν Ζε?? πρ?τα θε?ν ξεν?ν τε τρ?πεζα

8

vi.

8

xv.

9

ntries where the father takes a ne

9

iv.

γ?ρ

ακ?ρεσσι γον?

ι πο? τι? ?π?σσε

φ?α κα? ?π?προθ

fluence; and the protection of outlying propertie

9

151 e

9

vii.

9

φρα σ? μ?ν (= Telemachos) χ

9

ngs

9

el xl

9

i.

9

e chieftain. Il. xii. 319 of Sarpedon and Glaukos. Il. iv. 96 of Paris.

9

xvii

0

xxiv

0

ii

0

xiii

0

xix.

0

enriched Phoinix, and gave him much

0

iv.

0

vii.

0

. 1

0

d, i

0

b

1

icers was over "threescore great c

1

. ii.

1

. xlv

1

ans. Myers), cf. Ridg

1

l xlv.

1

xlvi

1

xxiv

1

es in Greece,

1

toms and Lore of M

1

vi.

2

.

2

capable of good cultivation

2

land would presuppose admission to

2

648; x

2

ε?τονε? ?ζωστοι ?κι

2

κλ?ρου?; ?στι δ? κα? ?ν λ?γουσι ?ξ?λου ν?μον ε?ναι τοιο?τ?ν τι δυν?μενο?, τ? μ? δανε?ζειν ε?? τι μ?ρο? τ?? ?παρχ

2

s 7

2

s 9

2

rg.

2

ο ?π? το?? νεογνο?? παιδ?οι?, ?ν ? τ? βρ?φο? περ? τ?ν ?στ?αν ?φερον τρ?χοντε?, κα? ?π? τ?ν ο?κε?ων κα? φ?λων

3

echerches,

3

ol. Ath.

3

cueil des Inscr

3

i. 60 and

3

iii. 7

3

re the numerous small farmers who a

3

μφιλοχωρ?σαντε? παρ?δωκαν ?αυτο?? το?? Θετταλο?? δουλε?ειν καθ? ?μολογ?α?, ?φ? ? ο?τε ?ξ?ξουσιν α?το?? ?κ τ?? χ

3

ον? ?κεν τ? κρ?ματα. The words τ?? ?οικ?α? should be taken with ο?τινε?, &c, rather t

, Inscript. Jur

3

e original number of κληρο?χοι in t

3

. ii

4

ληρο?

4

σθω

4

. I. Cf. Herod, v

4

of Antiquitie

4

Charicle

4

in of Currency

4

to have subsisted largely upon his pay

4

cueil Inscr. Gr

4

Delectu

θρον ?πτ? κα? δ?κα. Φ?ρεν κριθ?ν μανασ?ο? δ?ο τα? ??κατι ?λφι?ιο

4

xiii. quater. (Mylasa in Karia.

ithout reserve, also lands elsewhere with the trees without reserve for 5,000 drachmae of light Rhodian silver, provided that Thraseas has the sale registered with sureties. Moreover, Thraseas coming to the ekklesia declared that he was ready to manage these things: and the sale having taken place of the said (properties) to the trustees in the name of

ae of light silver of Rhodes, provided that Thraseas register the sale and give sureties. And coming before the ekklesia Thraseas declared that he was prepared to manage this; and the sale of the foregoing having taken place to the trustees in the name of the god, Thraseas hi

he god. If Thraseas gets more than two y

(ο? παραχωρ?σει δ? Θρασ?α? ?τ?ρ? ο?δεν?.... κ

5

at the object of sacrifice was thus to maintain this i

5

to the Ili

5

is that the worship of Heroes had the complete form of ancestor-worship: that, ancestors being buried at the hearth, or in the family tomb on private ground, death mad