Athenian Law in Classical Times (4th century BCE) – A Cultural History
The monograph “Athenian Law in Classical Times (4th century BCE) – A Cultural History” seeks to familiarize all interested parties with the basic features of Athenian law from a cultural-historical perspective. It not only deals with the substantive and the highly complex procedural law, but also illuminates the latter in its communicative functions. The choice of the type of trial already conveyed important messages to the opponents in court, the lay judges, as well as the broader public. The way in which the Athenians, without professional lawyers, punished – in a legal way – violations of their legal system and social norms is fundamental both to our understanding of classical Athens and to our assessment of Athenian law in the context of other pre-modern legal systems, especially Roman law.
Prof. Dr. Werner Rieß, Department of History, University of Hamburg