Horos from Naxos with Pupillary apotimema

Abstract

The horos was reported to Hiller von Gaertringer in June 1930 by Franz Gabriel Welter, engaged in excavations during the 1920s in the areas of Hyria and Livadi (Naxos). The document is remarkable for the definition of the concept of apotimema, the estimated value of properties given as security for the lease of property of a subject protected by the eponymous archon (orphans, widows and epikleroi). In this specific case, we have a pupillary apotimema: lands and the house, with the tiled roof, valued and placed as apotimema for the goods capitalised by the epitropos of Epiphron’s children. The capital loaned is 3,500 drachmas and the children would have obtained 400 drachmas as annual interest. Among the land pledged to guarantee the sum, the possessions in the localities of Elaious and Melanes are also mentioned, the latter’s toponym still in use for the village that is located in the north-central area of the island of Nassia.