1 A case of Adultery or coldblooded murder Adultery in Athenian life and Law Since many marriages were not based on attraction or emotional commitment adultery must have been frequent Adultery definition ID: 161088
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Lysias" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Lysias 1: A case of Adultery?(or cold-blooded murder?)Slide2
Adultery in Athenian life and LawSince many marriages were not based on attraction or emotional commitment, adultery must have been frequent.
Adultery definition (moicheia
): if someone had sex with someone’s wife, sister, mother, or daughter, but
NOT: if a married man had sex with a prostitute, one of his slaves or another man.
Adultery was viewed as a very serious offence because it interfered with someone else’s family and polluted the bloodline of his
oikos
. Slide3
The LawIf someone caught in the act was killed by the woman’s husband, father, son or brother, the killer was not punished.
Alternatively, the adulterer could be humiliated and abused without the possibility of redress. Financial compensation could be agreed as a civilized alternative
Possibly a prosecution could be brought at a later date.
Unlawful confinement under a pretext of adultery could be challenged and the alleged adulterer walked free of any obligation if he could convince the jury that he had not committed adultery, but was punished with humiliations before the jury if he failed. Slide4
EuphiletosEuphiletos killed Eratosthenes alleging that the latter had committed adultery with his wife.
The family of Eratosthenes disputes the facts and argues that Euphiletos
killed him outside the house accompanied by a gang of his friends and then brought the body inside and made up the charges of adultery.
The case is tried at the
Delphinion
court before 51 judges called
Ephetai
.
If
Euphiletos
fails to convince the jury he will be treated as a murderer and will be executed, but if he wins , he walks free. Slide5
Questions which the case raisesThe
ethopoieia: how are the characters potrayed
?
What was the role of
Sostratos
?
Why does
Euphiletos
need witnesses? Do you consider those witnesses reliable?
How could
Euphiletos
escape unnoticed?
How risky was for the wife to have the lover in while the husband was sleeping in the other room?
What evidence is
Euphiletos
presenting about the affair?
Do you believe
Euphiletos
?