2014/09/04 by Jakub Filonik · 7 citations
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Classical Antiquity Studies #Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance #Archaeology and Historical Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.13130/1128-8221/4290
openalex publication_date 2014/09/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
This paper aims to critically analyse the testimonies concerning Athenian impiety trials of the classical period. First, it reaffirms the arguments that some of them must have been an invention of Hellenistic and later authors. Second, it presents a likely political background behind the historical cases. Third, it discusses a number of legal issues, along with new arguments concerning the procedures employed. Finally, it examines some less well-known material from the fourth century BCE. Overall, it seeks to provide a possibly coherent and comprehensive framework of Athenian impiety trials based on their shared characteristics.