The Thetes of Athens. Dynamics and developments of the Athenian lower classes (seventh-fourth centuries BC)

Abstract

The main aim of this book is to study the Athenian lower classes between the 7th and 4th centuries BC, with the emphasis on the thetes. The word thes had a double meaning in ancient Athens: a day labourer and/or wage earner (generally a pauper without land) and a member of the Solonian census class. Based on this scheme, the intention here is to examine the ways in which both meanings overlapped throughout that historical period. Within the framework of this evolution, the book addresses the different aspects that are necessary for understanding the meaning of the word thetes in relation to the social, economic, political and cultural status of those who were called as such. This involves identifying the different situations in which the thetes found themselves in ancient Athens over time. All these issues are addressed in this book diachronically, thus offering a comprehensive overview of the historical evolution of the Athenian lower classes.