Eupatridai
As Eupatridai ( Greek Εὐπατρίδαι , Eupatriden , "from noble ancestors", "from good fathers") the Attic nobility was called, which was endowed with special rights. The more democracy was reflected in the Attic constitution, the more these privileges were restricted, so that their power was based only on their possessions and their wealth.
Attic nobles were initially named with the collective name Eupatridai. The term not only relates to the lifestyle, appearance and economic opportunities of the nobles, but also reflects the descent of those named. The aristocratic families were structured in a patriarchal linear fashion and did not form large clans. The role of the Eupatridai in archaic times remains unclear, only since about the 3rd quarter of the 6th century BC. A first evidence of the term comes from a tombstone from Eretria . Other mentions referring to archaic times are later constructs. It is possible, however, that certain privileges existed, for example during the occupation of the Areopagus . It is also known that Eupatridai were involved in the fight against the tyranny of Hipparchus , especially in the assassination attempt against him. Since classical times, the privileges of the Eupatridai have only been of a symbolic nature, for example as a phyle king or in certain priestly offices . Outside Athens, the term is often used as a synonym for the term nobility, not infrequently as an equivalent for the Roman-Latin patricius .
There was also a noble family in Athens named Eupatridai .
literature
- Hans-Joachim Gehrke : Eupatridai. In: The New Pauly (DNP). Volume 4, Metzler, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-476-01474-6 , column 263.