CMS 231

Litigation in Ancient Athens

Bates College - Fall 2002

Housekeeping Information

Professor: Margaret Imber (mimber@bates.edu); Pettengill 208; x8205:
Office Hours: Mon/Wed: 1-2:30 (and by appointment)
Class Time/Place: TR 02:40 pm - 04:00 pm PGILL G54

Course Menue

Required & Reserve Books and Articles	Requirements
Syllabus	Discussion Qs
Midterm Review	Web Resources
	Final Review

Course Description

This course studies the way Athenians imagined and practiced of law. In addition to the 100 or so forensic speeches that survive from the 4th century, B.C.E., (in which Athenians contested everything from wills and property disputes, to the worthiness of political candidates for office) Athenians imagined the role and rule of law in their tragic and comic theater. Study of the forensic speeches with plays like Aescylus' Oresteia and Aristophanes' Wasps illuminates not merely the procedural organization of law in the Athenian democracy, but also the nature of political, social and cultural structures in Athens. This course concentrates on the various methodological approaches scholars have applied to the orations and the plays as well as the mechanics of Athenian legal procedure.

Imber's Home Page /