The Protection of Oikoi under Extinction by the Eponymous Archon in Ancient Athens: The Law and its Application

Abstract

Athenians paid much attention to the protection of oikoi and especially to those oikoi which faced the threat of extinction. This is the reason why the eponymous archon was appointed by the Athenian state so as to take care of family and inheritance issues. Demosthenes states the Athenian law about the magistrate’s obligations and there are two issues which are quite ambiguous. The first one is related to the exact content of the term “oikos” that was under extinction, while the second one is related to the exact way through which the magistrate offered his protection towards such oikoi. The article gives an answer to these ambivalent issues, underscoring the significant role of the magistrate regarding families and properties in classical Athens.