Ancient Greek law in a Near Eastern context : comparative case studies of homicide pollution and adultery law in Greece and the Near East
This thesis comprises two case studies which each examine a point of Greek law in the context of the Near East. Significant work has been done in recognising that the Greeks were in a network of exchange with the Near East; but whilst progress has been made in areas such as literature, less work has been done in legal history. In part, this is because a similarity found in a law cannot point to influence in the way it can in other fields. A difference in constitutional law has also erected a barrier. In the case of private law, however, the issues facing the Greeks were the same as the ones facing their neighbours. The first case study focuses on Athenian homicide pollution; which has been influenced by studies such as that of Robert Parker who believed it to be a relic of an earlier period that had no place in Classical Athens. A comparative study with similar beliefs in the Hebrew Bible instead demonstrates that in each society it represented the concerns of the community, who could not otherwise be involved in what was legally a private offence. The second focuses on adultery law. The Greeks differed from their neighbours in subsuming adultery into the broader offence of moicheia, and a comparative study
Clapperton, Ben
Ancient Greek law in a Near Eastern context : comparative case studies of homicide pollution and adultery law in Greece and the Near East. This thesis comprises two case studies which each examine a point of Greek law in the context of the Near East. Significant work has been done in recognising that the Greeks were in a network of exchange with the Near East; but whilst progress has been made in areas such as literature, less work has been done in legal history. In part, this is because a similarity found in a law cannot point to influence in the way it can in other fields. A difference in constitutional law has also erected a barrier. In the case of private law, however, the issues facing the Greeks were the same as the ones facing their neighbours. The first case study focuses on Athenian homicide pollution; which has been influenced by studies such as that of Robert Parker who believed it to be a relic of an earlier period that had no place in Classical Athens. A comparative study with similar beliefs in the Hebrew Bible instead demonstrates that in each society it represented the concerns of the community, who could not otherwise be involved in what was legally a private offence. The second focuses on adultery law. The Greeks differed from their neighbours in subsuming adultery into the broader offence of moicheia, and a comparative study
ancient_greek law near_eastern context comparative_case_study homicide pollution adultery law greece near_east comprise_two case_study examine point greek law context near_east significant work recognise greeks network exchange near_east whilst progress_make area literature less work legal_history part similarity find law point influence way field difference constitutional law also erect barrier case private law however issue_face greeks face neighbour first case_study focus athenian homicide pollution influence study believe relic early_period place classical_athens comparative_study similar belief hebrew_bible instead demonstrate society represent concern community could otherwise involve legally private offence second_focus adultery law greeks differ neighbour subsume adultery broad offence comparative_study