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JanKucharski
UniversityofSilesia,Katowice
FacultyofPhilology
CapitalPunishmentinClassicalAthens*
Abstract:Thispaperattemptstodescribetheworkingofcapitalpunishmentwithintheframeofthe
Athenianlegalsystem,takingintoaccountthelatter’speculiaritiesandidiosyncracies.Inthefirst
place,itapproachestheproblemoftheso-calledproceduralorientationofAthenianlaw,arguing
thatnodefinitelistofcapitaloffencesinclassicalAthenscanbecompiled.Secondly,itconsidersthe
questionofhowdeathpenaltywasimposedinclassicalAthensandwhatwereitsviablesubstitutes.
Finally,itlooksatthedifferentwaysofitsexecution,withparticularattentiongiventohemlock
poisoningandbloodlesscrucifixion(apotympanismos).
Keywords:Greece,Athens,Greeklaw,capitalpunishment,hemlock,crucifixion
CapitalOffences?
TheAthenianlawappliedthedeathpenaltywithtrulydraconianseverity.It
is,however,remarkablethatnodefinitelistofcapitaloffencescaneverbe
compiled.1ThisisfirstlyduetoourfragmentaryknowledgeoftheAthenianlaw
itself,itsworkingsanditsenforcement.Butwhatwedoknow,insteadofclarifica-
tion,bringsfurtherdisorderintoanalreadyhazyandincompletepicture.
*ResearchforthispaperwasmadepossiblebyagrantfromthePolishNationalScienceCentre
(no.2013/11/B/HS2/02973).
1SuchattempthasbeenmadebyI.Barkan:CapitalPunishmentinAncientAthens.Chicago
1936,pp.5-40,buthislistcomprisesoffenceswhichonlycould,butneedednotbesubjecttocapital
punishment,andthatdependingontheprocedurechosenandthediscretionoftheprosecutorand
thejury;seethediscussionbelow.
