Accounts and accountability in classical Athens

Thesis

This thesis examines the phenomenon of accountability in Classical Athens. The Athenians instituted many procedures for examining the conduct of officials, cult personnel, and other individuals. Furthermore, several boards of officials were instructed to inscribe their end-of-year accounts on stone. This study aims (1) to improve our knowledge of the institutional and cultural significance of accountability in the Athenian context, and (2) to explore the link between accountability and the inscription of accounts on stone. Part I fulfils the first objective, Part II the second.

The introduction offers an overview of the scholarship on Athenian accountability procedures, and outlines the scope and theoretical foundations of the thesis. Chapter One provides a survey of the accountability procedures, rules, and oaths established by the polis and the associations. Chapter Two discusses the cultural specificity of accountability in the Athenian context through three case studies: the first discusses Athenian views on human nature and punishment, the second the link between ta hiera and accountability, and the third Athenian conceptions of public and private. Chapter Three focuses on the cultural significance of theft and the function of financial accounting. Each of the three chapters in Part II comprises a detailed description and discussion of one or more series of inscribed accounts. Chapter Four examines the fifth century inscribed aparchai lists set up by the hellenotamiai. Chapter Five explores fifth century inscribed accounts of public works drawn up by boards of epistatai. Chapter Six focuses on two series of fourth century inscribed accounts: the inventories of the epimeletai of the dockyards, and the records of the poletai’s sale of confiscated properties and mining leases. The conclusion summarises the general implications of the research.

Authors: Jones, E

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-ppd0qvewx
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Athenian democracy; classical Athens; Athenian studies; accountability; classics; inscribed accounts; politics; ancient history; institutions