The Shape of Athenian Law

This systematic survey sets out to reshape the understanding of the legal system of democratic Athens.

It is based on explicit discussion of how the subject might be studied, and it incorporates topics like the democratic political system and social structure, which are often regarded as being ouside the understanding of how the Athenian legal system operated.

It also deals extensively with subjects such as slavery, inheritance, maritime trade and patterns of land-holding.

S.C. Todd draws primarily on the 100 or so surviving law-court speeches of the Attic orators, but also uses Athenian comedy, public inscriptions, and various historical and philosophical texts.

Technical and legal terms, ancient and modern, are explained in a comprehensive glossary.

It should be accessible to those interested in social history and the anthropology of law, as well as to historians of the ancient world.