Citizenship in Classical Athens

This book argues that citizenship in Athens was primarily a religious identity, shared by male and female citizens alike.

Josine Blok (Author)

9781108702430, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 December 2019

348 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.5 kg

What did citizenship really mean in classical Athens? It is conventionally understood as characterised by holding political office. Since only men could do so, only they were considered to be citizens, and the community (polis) has appeared primarily as the scene of men's political actions. However, Athenian law defined citizens not by political office, but by descent. Religion was central to the polis and in this domain, women played prominent public roles. Both men and women were called 'citizens'. On a new reading of the evidence, Josine Blok argues that for the Athenians, their polis was founded on an enduring bond with the gods. Laws anchored the polis' commitments to humans and gods in this bond, transmitted over time to male and female Athenians as equal heirs. All public offices, in various ways and as befitting gender and age, served both the human community and the divine powers protecting Athens.

1. Rethinking Athenian citizenship
2. A bond between polis and gods
3. The value of descent
4. Citizens, male and female: vocabulary
5. Participation: public roles and institutions
6. Outlook: Athenians and others.

Subject Areas: Classical history / classical civilisation [HBLA1], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], History [HB]